CHAPTER 9 - TENANT SCREENING
Screening applicants is the most effective way to maximize the chance that a tenant will pay the rent and otherwise be a good tenant.
A landlord who uses a tenant screening service may only charge for the costs incurred for using the tenant screening service. If a landlord conducts his or her own applicant screening, the landlord may charge his or her actual costs in obtaining the background information so long as the costs do not exceed the customary costs charged by a screening service in the general area. The landlord's actual costs include costs incurred for long distance phone calls and for time spent calling previous landlords, references, employers, and financial institutions.
Under RCW 59.18.257, a landlord may not charge a prospective tenant for the cost of obtaining background information unless the landlord first:
·Notifies the prospective tenant in writing of what a tenant screening entails
·Notifies the prospective tenant's rights to dispute the accuracy of information provided by the tenant screening service or provided by the entities listed on the tenant application who will be contacted for information concerning the tenant, and
·Notifies the tenant of the name and address of the tenant screening service used by the landlord.
The state law, however, does not require that a landlord disclose information to a prospective tenant that was obtained from a tenant screening service or from entities listed on the tenant application which is not required under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq. Any landlord who violates RCW 59.18.257 may be liable to an applicant for damages in the amount of $100. The prevailing party in any legal action taken under this law may recover court costs and reasonable attorney fees.