Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.415
Applicability to certain single-family dwelling leases.
Operative Text
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any lease of a single-family dwelling for a period of a year or more or to any lease of a single-family dwelling containing a bona fide option to purchase by the tenant: PROVIDED, That an attorney for the tenant must approve on the face of the agreement any lease exempted from the provisions of this chapter as provided for in this section.
Under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, § 59.18.415, the chapter's tenant protections generally do not apply to two categories of single-family dwelling leases: those with a term of one year or more, and those that include a genuine option for the tenant to purchase the property. However, for either exemption to be valid, an attorney representing the tenant must sign off on the face of the agreement itself, confirming the exemption applies.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of single-family rental properties should be aware that § 59.18.415 allows certain leases—those running a year or longer, or those containing a bona fide purchase option—to fall outside the standard protections of Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. For such an exemption to be enforceable, the lease document itself must bear the approval signature of an attorney acting on behalf of the tenant. Compliant operators typically ensure this attorney sign-off appears directly on the face of the agreement before the lease takes effect.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 59.18.415, tenants signing a single-family dwelling lease of one year or more, or one that includes a purchase option, may be giving up the standard protections of Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. Critically, that exemption is only valid if your own attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement on its face—without that sign-off, the exemption may not hold. Tenants who are uncertain whether their lease was properly exempted, or who believe the attorney-approval requirement was not met, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Washington housing law.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.