Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.063
Landlord -- Written receipts for payments made by tenant.
Operative Text
(1) A landlord must accept a personal check, cashier's check, or money order for any payment of rent made by a tenant, except that a landlord is not required to accept a personal check from any tenant that has had a personal check written to the landlord or the landlord's agent that has been returned for nonsufficient funds or account closure within the previous nine months. A landlord must also allow for the tenant to submit a rental payment by mail unless the landlord provides an accessible, on-site location. (2) A landlord may refuse to accept cash for any payment of rent made by a tenant, but shall provide a receipt for any payment made by a tenant in the form of cash when the landlord accepts cash. (3) A landlord shall provide, upon the request of a tenant, a written receipt for any payments made by the tenant in a form other than cash.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.063, landlords in Washington are generally required to accept personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders as forms of rent payment, with a limited exception for tenants who have had a personal check returned for nonsufficient funds or account closure within the past nine months. Landlords must also allow tenants to pay by mail unless an accessible on-site payment location is provided. While landlords may decline cash payments, they must issue a written receipt whenever cash is accepted, and must provide a written receipt for any non-cash payment upon a tenant's request.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliant operators under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.063 maintain clear payment acceptance policies that honor personal checks, cashier's checks, and money orders, and document any NSF or account-closure history that triggers the nine-month exception before declining a personal check. They ensure that tenants have a way to submit rent by mail or have access to a convenient on-site payment location. When cash is accepted, compliant landlords issue a receipt immediately, and they respond to tenant requests for written receipts on non-cash payments promptly.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.063 gives tenants the right to pay rent by personal check, cashier's check, or money order in most circumstances, and to submit payment by mail if no accessible on-site location is available. Tenants who pay in cash are entitled to a receipt automatically, and any tenant who pays by another method can request a written receipt at any time. Tenants who believe a landlord is improperly refusing a payment method or withholding a receipt may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or Washington's Attorney General's Office for general information about 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 October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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