1 year later, how WA's controversial cap on rent hikes has been enforced
A year into Washington’s limit on residential rent increases, the state has yet to collect a cent in civil penalties from landlords.
That’s not to say some haven’t violated the law.
The state attorney general’s office has settled roughly four dozen cases of alleged breaches of the law, which caps rent increases in traditional units at 7% plus inflation up to a maximum of 10%. The limit for manufactured homes is 5%. The fines imposed in these cases total over $800,000. But landlords haven’t had to pay the penalties as they’ve taken steps to comply with the law, like canceling planned increases or issuing refunds.
“Anecdotally, just talking to folks in the community, they’re really happy that it’s there,” said Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, one of the law’s lead backers. “They’re feeling a little bit of a sense of security.”
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/05/26/1-year-later-how-was-controversial-cap-on-rent-hikes-has-been-enforced/