LawLease
Log in
LawLease1/3

Free Washington Property
Management Agreement Template

Who owns the property, who will manage it, and when the arrangement begins.

Last reviewed September 2026

Written by LawLease Editorial

Free template

Download a free Property Management Agreement template

A blank, printable form — fill it in by hand. Or build a guided version with Washington set as the governing state. Create a free account to download.

Build a guided Washington version

Washington Property Management Agreement

This Property Management Agreement is built with Washington as the governing state. These are the Washington landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.

Washington rules at a glance

Washington rules for a Property Management Agreement
Security deposit limitNo statewide cap; a written lease and signed move-in checklist are required before any deposit is collectedRCW 59.18.260
Deposit return30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, with a full and specific written statementRCW 59.18.280
Deposit depositoryA written receipt and the name, address, and location of the bank or escrow holding the deposit (RCW 59.18.270).
Landlord entry2 days’ written notice (1 day to show the unit); none in an emergencyRCW 59.18.150
Late feesNo statewide dollar cap; none may be charged if rent is paid within 5 days of the due dateRCW 59.18.170

Security deposits in Washington

Washington sets no statewide dollar limit on a security deposit, but it regulates the deposit more tightly than most states at every step — before it is collected, while it is held, and when it comes back.

  • Checklist first — No deposit may be collected unless the lease is in writing and the landlord gives the tenant a written move-in checklist describing the unit’s condition, signed and dated by both sides, with a copy to the tenant. Collect a deposit without one and the landlord is liable for the full deposit amount (RCW 59.18.260).
  • How it’s held — The deposit must be placed in a trust account at a Washington financial institution or with a licensed escrow agent. The tenant gets a written receipt and written notice of the depository’s name, address, and location (RCW 59.18.270).
  • Non-refundable fees — A fee is non-refundable only if a written rental agreement clearly says so. Otherwise it is treated as a refundable deposit (RCW 59.18.285).
  • Installments — If deposits and non-refundable fees together exceed 25% of the first full month’s rent, or last month’s rent is required up front, the tenant may ask in writing to pay them in installments — three equal monthly payments for a tenancy of three months or more, two otherwise — with no added fees or interest. Refusing costs the landlord one month’s rent plus attorney’s fees (RCW 59.18.610).
  • Return — Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, the landlord must give a full and specific written statement of the basis for keeping any of the deposit — with copies of estimates or invoices for damage charges — together with any refund due. Missing the deadline makes the landlord liable for the full deposit, and an intentional refusal to comply can cost up to twice the deposit (RCW 59.18.280).
  • Local limits — Some cities go further. Seattle, for example, caps the deposit plus non-refundable move-in fees at one month’s rent.

Rent increases, the statewide cap & late fees

Since May 7, 2025, Washington has a statewide cap on rent increases (EHB 1217, codified at RCW 59.18.700–720). It applies to month-to-month and fixed-term tenancies alike and runs until July 1, 2040.

  • No increase in year one — Rent may not be raised during the first 12 months of a tenancy (RCW 59.18.700).
  • The cap — After that, increases in any 12-month period are limited to 7% plus the Seattle-area CPI, or 10%, whichever is less. The Department of Commerce publishes the figure each year — 9.683% for 2026 and 10% for 2027. Rent can be reset freely once a tenant moves out (RCW 59.18.700).
  • 90 days’ notice — Every increase in rent or recurring fees needs at least 90 days’ prior written notice, using the statutory rent-and-fee-increase form, and can’t take effect before the current term ends (RCW 59.18.140(3), 59.18.720). Subsidized tenancies where rent is tied to income need 30 days.
  • Exemptions — The cap does not apply to units whose first certificate of occupancy is 12 years old or less, qualifying public, nonprofit and tax-credit housing, or certain owner-occupied properties (a shared kitchen or bath, a single-family home renting up to two units or bedrooms, or an owner-occupied duplex to fourplex). Owner-occupancy exemptions aren’t available to REITs, corporations, or LLCs with a corporate member. A landlord claiming an exemption must state the supporting facts in the notice (RCW 59.18.710).
  • Lease parity — Rent for the same unit may not differ by more than 5% between a month-to-month and a fixed-term agreement (RCW 59.18.700(4)).
  • Penalties — An unlawful increase exposes the landlord to refunds of the excess, damages of up to three months of the unlawful charges, and attorney’s fees; the Attorney General can seek up to $7,500 per violation (RCW 59.18.700(5)).
  • Late fees — Washington sets no statewide dollar cap on late fees for apartments and houses, but no late fee may be charged if rent is paid within five days after it is due (RCW 59.18.170). Payments must be applied to rent before fees, and a tenant’s right to stay can’t be conditioned on paying anything other than rent (RCW 59.18.283).

Landlord entry & access

A Washington landlord must give at least two days’ written notice before entering to inspect, make repairs or improvements, or supply services, and at least one day’s notice to show the unit to prospective tenants or buyers. The notice must state the exact date and time of entry — or a window with the earliest and latest possible times — and a phone number the tenant can use to object or reschedule (RCW 59.18.150).

Entry must be at reasonable times, and the tenant can’t unreasonably withhold consent. No notice is needed in an emergency or when the unit has been abandoned.

Required disclosures in Washington

  • Move-in condition checklist — Signed and dated by landlord and tenant before any deposit is collected (RCW 59.18.260).
  • Deposit depository — A written receipt and the name, address, and location of the bank or escrow holding the deposit (RCW 59.18.270).
  • Fire safety — A written notice of fire safety and protection information, including smoke detection devices; for multifamily buildings, the sprinkler, alarm, smoking-policy, and evacuation-plan details (RCW 59.18.060(12)).
  • Mold — The Department of Health’s information on the health hazards of indoor mold (RCW 59.18.060(14)).
  • Landlord identity — The name and address of the landlord or an authorized agent for notices and service (RCW 59.18.060(16)).
  • Flood risk (from 2027) — For leases entered into after December 31, 2026, a disclosure that the property may be in a flood hazard area, that the landlord’s insurance won’t cover the tenant’s belongings, and where to find county hazard information (RCW 59.18.060(13)).
  • Lead-based paint — Federal warning and known-hazard disclosure for housing built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. §4852d).

Washington Property Management Agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Washington?

State law sets no maximum, but a landlord can’t collect any deposit unless the lease is in writing and both sides have signed a dated move-in condition checklist (RCW 59.18.260). If deposits and non-refundable fees exceed 25% of the first month’s rent, or last month’s rent is required up front, the tenant can ask to pay in installments (RCW 59.18.610). Seattle and some other cities impose their own caps.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Washington?

30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant moves out. Within that time the landlord must give a full and specific written statement of why any of the deposit is being kept, with estimates or invoices for damage, along with any refund due. Missing the deadline makes the landlord liable for the full deposit, and an intentional refusal can cost up to twice the deposit (RCW 59.18.280).

More Washington landlord documents

Property Management Agreement in other states

Create your document in under 5 minutes

Answer a few plain questions, then download or e-sign. Built for landlords and tenants.

Get started
LawLease

LawLease LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. The information, documents, and services available through LawLease are provided for informational and self-help purposes only and are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

This document is a general-purpose template, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city, and an unusual situation deserves a lawyer’s review.

Documents you generate are yours to keep. Every edit and signature is recorded in an audit trail, so you can show exactly what was signed and when.

Using LawLease means you accept our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Legal Disclaimer. Bot protection is provided by reCAPTCHA — Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.