Landlord Damage Relief Program

Washington state’s Landlord Mitigation Law (RCW 43.31.605) became effective on June 7th of 2018 to provide landlords with an incentive and added security to work with tenants receiving rental assistance. The program offers up to $1,000 and up to fourteen days’ rent loss to the landlord in reimbursement for some potentially required move-in upgrades, and up to $5,000 in qualifying damages caused by a tenant during tenancy.

Important note: Any post-move in claim will prohibit the landlord (or any agency on the landlord’s behalf) from pursuing legal action for additional monies owed from the tenant at any time in the future.

Who can submit a claim?

Any landlord that has screened, approved and offered rental housing to any applicant that will be using any form of housing subsidy program is eligible, except properties owned or operated by housing authorities.

Due to the high claim volume in each program, claim responses may be delayed several days, and payments may not be received for multiple months. Claims are paid in order received, then approved. The approval email is your guarantee of payment. Please be sure to add emails from @commerce.wa.gov to your safe sender list.

• Read Landlord Damage Relief Program FAQs (PDF) about the program for more information.
• For a complete review of the law, please visit RCW 43.31.605.

How to qualify for the program

Commerce will review, approve and pay claims as quickly as possible. However, failing to provide proper documentation to satisfy the requirements below may cause a claim to be denied. Please have the following required documents scanned to attach to your claim. We will request missing documentation but cannot make exceptions for documents that are not available. The claim cannot be approved if we do not receive all required documents or other requested supporting evidence.

Documents required for damage and/or rent loss claims:

1. Obtain a Washington Statewide Vendor Identification Number.
2. An executed written Rental Agreement between the landlord and the tenant(s).
3. A Rental Assistance Agreement (or adequate proof of housing assistance).
4. A completed Move-In Condition Report (PDF) (this is not a Rental Assistance Inspection Report) signed and dated by both Landlord and Tenant(s).
5. A Tenant ledger showing any unpaid portion of rent and other charges.
6. Copies of all repair invoices for damages that are included on the claim.
7. Complete the entire claim submission form.

Resources

• Instruction for Secure Access Washington (SAW) one-time setup (PDF)
• Apply for Reimbursement through SAW
• Statewide Vendor ID Number
• Public Disclosure Act, Chapter 42.56
• Move-In/Out Condition Report (PDF)
• Mitigation Information Sheet (PDF)
• Mitigation Training Presentation (PDF)
• Landlord Damage Relief Program FAQs (PDF)
• Landlord Discrimination Counseling
• Authorizing Statute: RCW 43.31.605