Washington Month to Month Lease Agreement Form

Minimum Termination: Tenants may terminate a month-to-month lease with 20 days’ written notice before the end of the rental period, with shorter notice allowed for active duty military personnel receiving sudden deployment or relocation orders (RCW 59.18.200(1)(a)-(b)).

Landlords must cite a state-approved “just cause,” such as nonpayment of rent or major renovations, to terminate a lease. Review RCW 59.18.650 for a complete breakdown of all allowable causes for lease termination and their corresponding notice periods. 

Increasing Rent: Washington state places statutory caps on rent increases for some properties. Review RCW 59.18.710 for a complete list of properties that are exempt from Washington’s rent control laws. State law requires 90 days’ notice for rent increases on all properties, regardless of whether the unit is subject to rent-control laws (RCW 59.18.140(3)(a)).

For units subject to Washington’s rent cap laws, landlords are prohibited from increasing rent during the first 12 months of tenancy (RCW 59.18.700(1)(a)(i)). Thereafter, annual rent increases are capped at 7% plus the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index (CPI), or 10%, whichever is less  (RCW 59.18.700(1)(a)(ii)). 90-day rent increase notices must include the statutory form set forth in RCW 59.18.720(3). Landlords can use Washington’s HB 1271 Landlord Resource Center to calculate rent increases and find further information.