Washington — Ch. 26 Art. III Housing § 26-61
Sleeping in unhealthy places
Operative Text
No person having the right and power to prevent the same shall knowingly cause or permit any person to sleep or remain in any place dangerous or prejudicial to health by reason of a want of ventilation or drainage, or by reason of the presence of any poisonous, noxious, or offensive substance, or otherwise.
Washington Ch. 26 Art. III Housing § 26-61 prohibits anyone who has the authority to prevent it from knowingly allowing another person to sleep or stay in a space that poses health dangers — whether due to poor ventilation, inadequate drainage, the presence of harmful or offensive substances, or any other health-threatening condition. The rule applies broadly to any such dangerous or unhealthy place, not just formal rental units. It focuses on the knowing element: a person in a position of control who is aware of the hazard and does nothing to stop it may be in violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Washington Ch. 26 Art. III Housing § 26-61, property owners and managers who have the authority to control a space are generally expected to ensure that no occupant is knowingly permitted to sleep or remain in areas with deficient ventilation, poor drainage, or hazardous substances. Compliant operators typically conduct regular inspections to identify and remediate conditions that could render a space dangerous or prejudicial to health. Maintaining documentation of inspections and corrective actions is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate awareness and responsiveness to health-related conditions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Washington Ch. 26 Art. III Housing § 26-61 establishes that tenants have a right not to be knowingly subjected to sleeping or living conditions that are dangerous to health due to ventilation failures, drainage problems, toxic or offensive substances, or similar hazards. Tenants who believe a landlord or other controlling party is aware of such conditions and has failed to address them may have grounds to raise a violation of this provision, including as a defense in certain housing proceedings. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with local housing or code enforcement authorities, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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