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Free Washington Rental Application Form - Fill Online, Sign & Download the PDF
Washington limits tenant screening fees to a landlord's actual cost, protects renters who pay with Section 8 or other vouchers statewide, and caps most rent increases under a 2025 rent stabilization law. Because Seattle's Fair Chance Housing rules bar landlords from denying an applicant over criminal history, this form leaves out criminal-history questions. Fill it out below with plain-English help on every field, then sign and download your completed PDF free.
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Washington rental application rules to know
- •Before charging a screening fee, a landlord must tell you in writing what information will be checked, the criteria that can lead to denial, and the name and address of the screening company, and the fee cannot exceed the landlord's actual cost of screening (RCW 59.18.257).
- •A landlord must state whether they accept a 'comprehensive reusable tenant screening report,' and a landlord who accepts reusable reports cannot charge you a fee to run their own report (RCW 59.18.257).
- •Washington sets no cap on the security deposit amount, but the landlord must return it with an itemized statement of any deductions within 30 days after you move out (a deadline raised from 21 days in 2023), or you may recover up to two times the deposit if they act intentionally (RCW 59.18.280).
- •It is illegal statewide to refuse a renter because they pay with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher or another subsidy: source of income is a protected class (RCW 59.18.255).
- •Beyond the federal protections, Washington law bars housing discrimination based on marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship or immigration status, and use of a service animal (RCW 49.60.222).
- •Under Washington's 2025 rent stabilization law, a landlord cannot raise rent during the first 12 months, must give at least 90 days' written notice, and generally cannot raise it more than 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is less (9.683% is the state maximum for 2026; RCW 59.18.140 and RCW 59.18.700). Manufactured-home lots are capped at 5% under chapter 59.20 RCW.
- •In Seattle, a landlord may not reject an applicant or take other adverse action because of criminal history; a 2023 federal appeals court struck down the part banning landlords from asking, but the ban on using criminal history to deny remains in force (Seattle Municipal Code 14.09).
- •Seattle also requires most landlords to publish their screening criteria and offer the unit to the first qualified applicant who submits a complete application, known as the first-in-time rule (Seattle Municipal Code 14.08.050).
Last reviewed 2026-07-15. General information, not legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge me to apply in Washington?
A landlord can only charge the actual cost of running your background and credit check, and cannot mark it up beyond what a screening service in the area customarily charges. Before you pay, they must give you written notice of what will be checked and what could result in denial (RCW 59.18.257).
Can I reuse a tenant screening report so I don't pay a fee for every application?
Yes. Washington law recognizes 'comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports.' A landlord must tell you whether they accept one, and a landlord who accepts reusable reports cannot charge you a fee to run their own report (RCW 59.18.257).
Does this application ask about criminal history?
No. Seattle's Fair Chance Housing rules bar landlords from denying applicants based on criminal records, so a Seattle landlord could not act on the answer anyway. Using a blanket criminal ban can also still create Fair Housing Act disparate-impact liability, so this form leaves those questions out.
Can a landlord refuse my Section 8 voucher in Washington?
No. Since 2018, source of income, including Section 8 and other housing subsidies, has been a protected class statewide, so a landlord cannot reject you just because part of your rent is paid with a voucher (RCW 59.18.255).
When do I get my security deposit back?
Your landlord has 30 days after you move out to return your deposit along with an itemized statement of any deductions. If they intentionally fail to do so, a court can award you up to two times the deposit (RCW 59.18.280).
How much can my rent go up in Washington?
Under the 2025 rent stabilization law, your landlord cannot raise the rent in the first year, must give at least 90 days' written notice, and generally cannot increase it more than 7% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower. The state-set maximum for 2026 is 9.683%. Manufactured-home lots are capped at 5% under a separate law, chapter 59.20 RCW.
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For landlords: the tenant application form and the rental verification form.