Room Rental Agreement in Washington

For renting a room in a home, including your own home. Some states treat a renter in the owner's home (a lodger) differently when ending the arrangement — see your state's household rules.

What Washington law says

Renting a room in your own home (lodgers)	No separate lodger exclusion: Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act does not exclude renting a room in an owner's home. Instead, where an owner or lessor shares the unit or a common kitchen or bathroom with the tenant, that is a just cause to end the tenancy with at least 20 days' notice before the end of the rental term or period. Just-cause section: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.650. Source: RCW 59.18.040; RCW 59.18.650(2)(i)
Tenancy at will	Washington's general tenancy chapter does not use the term 'tenancy at will'. Premises rented for an indefinite time with monthly or other periodic rent are a month-to-month (period-to-period) tenancy, ended by written notice of 30 days or more before the end of a period. A person who takes possession without the owner's consent is a tenant by sufferance whose right to stay ends on demand. These rules do not apply to residential tenancies covered by chapter 59.18 RCW, which has its own termination and just-cause rules (RCW 59.18.650). Source: RCW 59.04.020, 59.04.050

Renting a room in your own home (lodgers)

No separate lodger exclusion: Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act does not exclude renting a room in an owner's home. Instead, where an owner or lessor shares the unit or a common kitchen or bathroom with the tenant, that is a just cause to end the tenancy with at least 20 days' notice before the end of the rental term or period.

Just-cause section: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.650.

Source: RCW 59.18.040; RCW 59.18.650(2)(i)

Tenancy at will

Washington's general tenancy chapter does not use the term 'tenancy at will'. Premises rented for an indefinite time with monthly or other periodic rent are a month-to-month (period-to-period) tenancy, ended by written notice of 30 days or more before the end of a period. A person who takes possession without the owner's consent is a tenant by sufferance whose right to stay ends on demand.

These rules do not apply to residential tenancies covered by chapter 59.18 RCW, which has its own termination and just-cause rules (RCW 59.18.650).

Source: RCW 59.04.020, 59.04.050

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ROOM RENTAL AGREEMENT

Owner/landlord: [owner name] Renter: [renter name]

Room: [room description] in the home at [home address]. Shared areas the renter may use: [shared areas].

Term: begins [start date]; [ends on end date / continues month to month].

Rent: $[monthly rent] due on [due day] by [payment method]. Deposit: $[deposit amount].

Utilities included: [utilities included]. House rules: [house rules, e.g. guests, kitchen use, smoking].

Ending the agreement: either side gives at least [notice period] written notice, and never less than state law requires.

Signatures and dates: [signatures]

Room Rental Agreement for other states · Washington tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.