Washington landlord forms / Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist

Washington Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist

$19

A room-by-room condition record signed by landlord and tenant at move-in, then reused at move-out — the single best protection against a disputed security deposit deduction.

Core state figures — deposit caps, notice periods, entry rules — independently verified by a licensed U.S. attorney.

Start my move-in / move-out inspection checklist — $19

What Washington law requires

Security deposit cap: Washington does not limit how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit on an ordinary residential lease (a separate, lower cap of one month's rent — two months' if the tenant has pets — applies only to manufactured/mobile home LOT rentals under a different chapter of state law, RCW 59.20.170, which does not apply here). The deposit must be held in a trust account at a Washington financial institution or with a licensed escrow agent.
RCW 59.18.270 · source
Deposit return deadline: 30 days after move-out
RCW 59.18.280 · source
Month-to-month termination notice: 60 days
RCW 59.18.650 · source
Pay-or-quit notice (late rent): 14 days
RCW 59.12.030(3); RCW 59.18.057 · source
Landlord entry notice: 2 days
RCW 59.18.150 · source
Late fee guidance: no statutory cap
RCW 59.18.170 · source

Frequently asked questions

Is a move-in checklist legally required?

Some states require a written condition statement before a deposit is collected; in every state it's strong evidence if a deposit deduction is ever disputed.

Do I need to fill this out again at move-out?

Yes — compare the same rooms against the same checklist so any new damage is clear. Bundle purchasers can re-edit this document within their 12-month window.

Need more than one document?

The Complete Landlord Pack includes this document plus 5 more for Washington, with unlimited edits for 12 months.

See the Washington pack