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Seattle is a well-known city in Washington with a vibrant tech industry. Besides its coffee culture and scenic landscapes, companies like Amazon and Microsoft are headquartered there. Over 75% of renters under 35 choose Seattle as their place to live.
But living in such a popular city also raises a big question for renters: How much can a landlord actually raise the rent? And what’s the average rent increase in Seattle right now?
Understanding these numbers can help tenants plan better and avoid surprises.
Let’s look at how much a landlord can raise rent in Seattle and what the current trends in the city’s rental market are.
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Seattle?
Landlords must follow state and city rules in order to raise rent in Seattle. Under Washington’s House Bill 1217, they can’t increase rent during the first 12 months of tenancy. After that, the rent can only be raised by up to 7% plus inflation, or 10% total per year, whichever is lower
Seattle adds its own rules on top. For example, property owners must give renters at least 180 days’ written notice before any increase, and increases can only happen at the start of a rent period. If rent goes up by 10% or more in a year, the landlord must include a notice offering Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance (EDRA), which means eligible tenants may be eligible for help like 3 months’ rent to move out.
However, some properties are exempt from these rent increase limits:
- Newly constructed buildings (12 years old or less)
- Public housing or non-profit housing where rents are regulated
- Certain owner-occupied homes (not owned by a corporation or REIT), including when the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the owner, single-family homes with up to two rented units or rooms (including ADUs/DADUs), or duplexes/triplexes/fourplexes where the owner lives in one unit
Is There a Limit on Rent Increase in Seattle?
Yes, there’s now a clear Seattle rent increase limit in place. Landlords are prohibited from raising rent by more than 7% plus inflation (CPI) or 10% per year, whichever is lower. This rule is designed to give renters more stability and predictability in housing costs.
For most renters, it’s capped at 10% annually, but exemptions apply to new buildings (under 12 years old), public/non-profit housing, and certain owner-occupied homes.
How Often Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Seattle?
Landlords can raise rent only once per year in Seattle, excluding the first 12 months of tenancy.
Rent Increase Notice Seattle by Government
A landlord must provide a minimum of 180 days’ advance written notice before increasing the rent. The notice may be delivered in-person, by posting on the property’s main gate, or by mailing by first class mail.
According to the Seattle city government notification for landlords:
“Housing cost increase notices issued on or after July 1, 2022, may trigger EDRA (Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance) if the increase equals or exceeds 10% within the same 12 month period. When an increase reaches 10% or more you must attach an EDRA notice to the notice of increase for your tenants.”
Can a Landlord Raise Rent More Than 10% in Seattle?
In Seattle, a landlord can’t raise rent by more than 10%. The House Bill 1217 restricts rent hikes to 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or a maximum of 10%, whichever is less.
What Are the New Rental Laws in Seattle 2025?
Seattle’s rental laws are designed in a way to make housing fairer and more balanced for both tenants and landlords. These rules cover evictions, deposits, repairs, and even financial help when tenants are forced to move. Let’s break them down.
Eviction Law
Seattle passed the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance in 1980 to protect tenants from unlawful evictions. The landlord must have at least one of the 16 approved reasons listed in the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance to evict a tenant, as well as comply with the Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance.
Security Deposit Law
How much is a security deposit in Seattle?
The city in Washington caps refundable security deposits at one month’s rent, and non-refundable fees for cleaning and screening can’t be more than 10% of that rent. For example, if one month’s rent is $1,000, non-refundable fees (cleaning and screening only) can’t exceed $100, restricting the security deposit amount to $900.
A 25% of one month’s rent can be charged as a pet deposit, if applicable, in addition to the security deposit and fees. Tenants also have the right to pay deposits in installments if they want to.
They must return it, with an itemized list of deductions if any, within 30 days after the tenant moves out, according to RCW 59.18.280.
Repair and Deduct Law
If the landlord doesn’t take care of repairs after the tenant has sent them a written request, Washington law allows the latter to hire a licensed contractor to fix the issue and then deduct the repair cost from the following month’s rent.
But landlords are also on a timeline once a written request is submitted:
- 24 hours: For emergencies like no water, no electricity, no heat in winter, or any life/safety hazard
- 72 hours: If the fridge, stove, or oven stop working, or for serious plumbing problems with sinks or bathtubs
- 10 days: For all other repair needs
Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance
The Seattle City Council introduced the Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance on June 25, 1990, which grants relocation assistance of $5,133.00 (the landlord pays half of this amount, i.e., $2,566 and the City of Seattle pays the other half, i.e., $2,566) to low-income households and adequate time to search for new housing and move.
Note: Violating Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance is subject to fines and penalties of up to $1,000 per day.
Anti-Discrimination Law
The Fair Housing Act and Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing legislation prohibits discrimination against tenants by landlords and real estate companies because of:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- National origin
- Income source
- Immigration status
- Familial status (presence of children under the age of 18 or pregnancy)
- Disability
- Disability Group Homes
How to Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
Managing rental properties and collecting rent using the old-school spreadsheets is a thing of the past. Property management software, on the other hand, is so convenient that it makes things much easier and faster for property managers, landlords, and tenants.
A property manager shared on Reddit, “I’m a full time property manager with my own rentals. I tried doing my own properties manually and completely messed it all up. Tracking income and expenses is time consuming without software. Maintenance tracking is also huge. Long term record keeping and document management are other needs to have aspects that software will give you.”
You would also want to read the experience of this Reddit user with PMS, who says, “Property management software saves so much time by automating tasks like rent collection and maintenance requests, plus it helps cut errors with better tracking and reports.”
At the end of the day, managing rentals doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right software, payments are on time, repairs stay tracked, and everyone stays in the loop, giving landlords confidence and tenants a smoother living experience.
How RentPost Helps Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
RentPost helps manage your rental property and rent collection. One happy user rated RentPost 4.5/5 on G2, and said, “I find RentPost’s template to be easy to use and only include the significant property details that I should mention. A high-quality picture uploading feature as a new highlight pattern, it makes my site distinct from the other competitors.”
If you’re new to RentPost, here’s an overview of what this cloud-based property management tool can do:
- Real-Time Payment Tracking: With RentPost, easily track rent payments and outstanding balances in real-time with the status of each payment just a click away.
- Tenant Screening: Rent out your property to only trustworthy tenants after end-to-end screening that includes thorough background checks, credit checks, eviction history, identity verification, and more.
- Scalability: Add new units and tenants as your rental portfolio grows, and scale your business with minimal effort.
- Automated Payment Reminders: Automated payment reminders mean no more late rent payments. The PMS automatically calculates and applies late fees based on the schedules you define, so you never have to chase payments again.
- Work Order Management: Save time and money by streamlining work orders with RentPost. Accept maintenance requests from tenants, assign them to the respective maintenance personnel or managers, and the tool will take care of the rest.
- Financial Report Generation: Get valuable insights into your apartment’s finances through income and expense reports. Identify the right time to adjust rent prices based on your property’s performance.
Explore rent laws in other regions of the US:
- How much can you raise rent in California?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in New Jersey?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent In Florida?
- How much can you raise rent in NYC?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Oregon?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Los Angeles?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in San Diego?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Pennsylvania?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Massachusetts?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Chicago?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Illinois?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Maryland?
- How Much Can You Raise Rent in Michigan?
Raise Rent in Seattle: FAQs
Is There Rent Control in Seattle, WA?
Yes, Seattle follows Washington State’s new rent control law, House Bill 1217 (HB 1217). This law caps annual rent increases at 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, for most residential properties. The goal is to provide renters with more stability and predictability in their housing costs.
Is Seattle a Landlord-Friendly City?
No, Seattle has traditionally remained a tenant-friendly city, and with the introduction of HB 1217, the balance has shifted further. Landlords must now adhere to stricter rules regarding rent increases and tenant rights. While these measures aim to protect renters, they also require landlords to be more diligent in compliance.
Do Rent Increase Laws Apply to All Types of Properties in Seattle?
No, rent increase laws apply to only residential properties in Seattle. The rent of commercial spaces is governed by separate laws.
Are There Exceptions to the Rent Cap in Seattle?
Yes, the rent cap in Seattle doesn’t apply to:
- Properties that are 12 years old or less
- Public housing authorities and non-profit housing authorities where other laws regulate maximum rents
- Owner-occupied properties provided ownership isn’t a corporation, an LLC where an owner is a corporation, or a real estate investment trust.
Can Rent be Increased During a Fixed-Term Lease in Seattle?
No, rent can’t be increased during the term of a fixed-term lease unless the lease agreement specifically allows for it. Once the lease term ends, landlords can renew the expired rental agreement with adjusted rent, provided they give proper notice of 180 days.
What Are Tenants’ Rights if They Can’t Afford a Rent Increase in Seattle?
If a tenant can’t afford a rent increase, they have the right to negotiate with the landlord. Seattle’s laws provide tenants with access to free legal counsel if they are unable to afford an attorney, especially in cases of eviction. Hence, it’s advisable for tenants to communicate openly with their landlords and seek legal assistance if needed.
What Happens if a Landlord Increases Rent Without Following the Law in Seattle?
If a landlord increases rent without following the law in Seattle, they may face legal consequences. For instance, in August 2025, 8 landlords in Washington were fined $2,000 each for violating the state’s rent cap law. Tenants affected by unlawful rent increases can break their lease with 20 days’ notice or file a complaint with the court, which may impose civil penalties up to $7,500 for violation plus attorney’s fees and mandatory damages to the tenant.
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