Washington’s 2026 rent-increase rule caps most annual increases at 9.683% for rentals covered by the state’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Law, and the cap runs from January 1 through December 31, 2026. Tenants must also receive proper advance notice before a rent hike takes effect, and the increase generally cannot happen during the first 12 months of a tenancy.
What the cap means
For most covered Washington rentals, a landlord may not raise rent by more than 9.683% in 2026.
The amount is set annually by the Washington Department of Commerce using June Consumer Price Index data for the Seattle area.
Notice rules
Washington landlords are required to give tenants advance written notice of a rent increase, typically 60 to 90 days before it takes effect.
That means a landlord cannot surprise a tenant with a same-day or short-notice increase.
First year of tenancy
Under HB 1217, landlords may not increase rent during the first 12 months after the tenancy begins.
After that first year, the annual cap applies to later increases for covered housing.
Important exceptions
Manufactured home and mobile home communities are subject to a different rule, with a fixed 5% cap in the materials reviewed.
Some properties may also be exempt from the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, so the general cap does not apply to every unit.
Tenant checklist
- Check whether your lease is covered by RCW 59.18.
- Confirm the increase stays within 9.683% for 2026.
- Verify the landlord gave proper notice before the effective date.
- Check whether you are still within the first 12 months of the tenancy.
A simple example: if your rent is $2,000 and your unit is covered by the law, the maximum 2026 increase would be about $193.66, bringing the rent to about $2,193.66.
Sources:
- https://www.rhawa.org/blog/2026-rent-cap
- https://www.multifamilynw.org/news/new-rent-increase-limits-for-washington-state-2025-2026
