Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.350
Arbitration -- Completion of arbitration after giving notice.
Operative Text
When a party gives notice pursuant to RCW 59.18.320 (2), he or she must, at the same time, arrange for arbitration of the grievance in the manner provided for in this chapter. The arbitration shall be completed before the rental due date next occurring after the giving of notice pursuant to RCW 59.18.320 : PROVIDED, That in no event shall the arbitrator have less than ten days to complete the arbitration process.
Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, at Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.350, establishes a timing rule for arbitration that is triggered when a party gives notice under RCW 59.18.320(2). The party giving that notice must simultaneously arrange for arbitration through the process set out in the chapter. The arbitration must be finished before the next rental due date following the notice, but the arbitrator is always guaranteed at least ten days to complete the process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.350, a landlord who gives notice under RCW 59.18.320(2) is generally expected to arrange arbitration at the same moment the notice is delivered, not afterward. Compliant operators typically confirm the arbitration timeline in advance to ensure the process can be completed before the next rent due date while still allowing the arbitrator the minimum ten-day window. Keeping clear records of when notice was given and when arbitration was arranged helps demonstrate adherence to the simultaneous-action requirement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.350 gives tenants a procedural protection: if a party triggers arbitration under RCW 59.18.320(2), the arbitration must wrap up before the next rent due date, and the arbitrator must have at least ten days to do so. If a landlord gives notice but fails to arrange arbitration at the same time, or if the timeline is not honored, a tenant may have grounds to raise that procedural failure in the arbitration itself or as part of a broader dispute. Tenant-rights organizations in Washington can help explain how these timing rules interact with other rights under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
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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