Enforcement of tenant protections (HB 2023 /Hackney, Macri)

Landlord-tenant laws in Washington are considered “self-help” which means it is up to individual tenants to enforce their rights, on their own. There is no entity charged with the enforcement of laws protecting tenants from unscrupulous or neglectful landlords, and tenants cannot take their landlord to court to uphold basic and critical responsibilities, like making repairs.

HB 2023 adds enforcement mechanisms to the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, through the Attorney General’s enforcement of the Consumer Protection Act and with an expedited court process for tenants to enforce their rights. Other states have such mechanisms, and the results are better housing conditions and improved stability.