Help with Seattle Rental Laws

[Jeremy Benezra]

Hi everyone,

I am in search of someone from BiggerPockets I can have a phone chat with regarding Seattle rental laws.  If you can help me out I’d be happy to mail you a gift card or help you some other way if I can, in appreciation of your time.

Over the past 8 or 9 years I’ve acquired a handful of rentals in Seattle suburbs and south of Seattle but I’m currently setting up my first rental inside Seattle limits, the remodel will be done in a week or two.  I know there are Seattle-specific rules about rentals, I need to get an inspection and get the house registered, etc.

In the past I’ve used a leasing real estate agent to find me a tenant, do all the background screening, do the leasing paperwork, etc.  But I lose 1 month rent for that service.  Last week, mid-remodel, I put a few photos of the house on Zillow at what I thought was an above-market rent rate, just to see what would happen.  There’s been a huge response of interest!  4 separate showings yesterday and overnight several applications came in through Zillow.

I haven’t yet posted renter requirements like credit score, income > 3x rent, no pets…  I’ve had showings.  I’ve received rental applications.  I want to make sure I do things properly with Seattle RRIO.  There’s a big difference in the prospective tenants – families, groups of roommates, professionals, friends straight out of college.  I just wanted to chat with someone, not on a public forum, about what I can and can’t do, what restrictions I can place…to get the best possible tenant into my freshly remodeled house.

Lastly, I obviously want to maximize my return.  With so many applicants, is it reasonable and/or legal if I tell everyone the rent is actually $200-400 higher than originally posted, who is still interested?I have questions along these lines.

If everyone thinks its prudent to contact a Seattle rental attorney or similar, I could go that route too.  Thanks,

Jeremy