Our Property Watch service has been specifically crafted around the unique needs of condominiums in Seattle, on the Eastside, and in Tacoma. We give you the peace of mind you need with your rental while saving you money.
With Property Watch, you receive the following:
What is First in Time?
On November 14th, 2019, the WA State Supreme Court upheld a law for rental properties located within the City of Seattle that had previously been overturned by the lower courts. The law regards tenant screening practices, and is referred to as “first in time.” It requires that landlords provide their screening criteria to applicants in their ads and on their websites, and to offer tenancy to the first qualified applicant who provides a fully completed application. If that tenant does not respond within 48 hours, the landlord may move on to the next fully completed application. This is enforced by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights.
What is the Rental Registration Ordinance?
Every rental property within the City of Seattle needs to be registered with the city as per the 2014 Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance (RRIO). To sign up for RRIO, go to www.seattle.gov/RRIO and click on Register My Property. The fee can be paid with a credit card online and is valid for five years from the date you register. You’ll be notified by the city when you are going to be inspected, and inspections happen at least once every 10 years. They’ll be looking at the exterior and interior of the property to make sure it meets all the minimum requirements and is maintained safely. You can view the full RRIO checklist on the city’s website.
How much can I charge for a security deposit?
You may use a security deposit to offset costs incurred by you as a result of the tenant not fulfilling their obligations under the lease agreement. Some examples of costs include (but are not limited to) damage to the property, unpaid rent and late fees. Outside the City of Seattle, there is no limit to the dollar amount you may charge as a security deposit. Within the City of Seattle, security deposits plus move-in fees cannot exceed the equivalent of one month’s rent. If you choose to allow pets, we recommend that you charge an additional pet deposit. If your property is within the City of Seattle, you may charge up to 25% of one month’s rent as a pet deposit. Outside of Seattle, there is no maximum on pet deposits. It’s mandatory that your tenant’s security deposit is held in a trust account separate of your personal checking or savings account, and that it’s kept in an account that is located in the state of Washington. In addition, if you receive and hold a security deposit from your tenant, you must also have a move-in condition checklist that details the condition of the unit at the time of move-in, and it must be signed by both landlord and tenant.
Can I select my tenants based on my own criteria?
It is incredibly important that you abide by all fair housing laws and do not discriminate against someone within a protected class. As a professional rental agency, we follow these guidelines strictly and do not discriminate based on: Race, National origin, Disability, Use of a service animal, Sex, Sexual orientation, Gender identity, Parental status, Age, Religion, Marital status, Ancestry, Color, Creed, Political ideology, Military status or veteran, Source of income (such as use of a Section 8 certificate, child support payments, unemployment benefits, disability, etc.).
Have more questions about how property management in Seattle works? We’re happy to help – give us a call at 206-315-4628 today.
