59.20.200 - Landlord -- Failure to carry out duties -- Notice from tenant -- Time limits for landlord's remedial action. - Washington Statutes

Landlord — Failure to carry out duties — Notice from tenant — Time limits for landlord's remedial action.

If at any time during the tenancy the landlord fails to carry out the duties required by RCW 59.20.130, the tenant may, in addition to pursuit of remedies otherwise provided the tenant by law, deliver written notice to the landlord, which notice shall specify the property involved, the name of the owner, if known, and the nature of the defective condition. For the purposes of this chapter, a reasonable time for the landlord to commence remedial action after receipt of such notice by the tenant shall be, except where circumstances are beyond the landlord's control;

     (1) Not more than twenty-four hours, where the defective condition is imminently hazardous to life;

     (2) Not more than forty-eight hours, where the landlord fails to provide water or heat;

     (3) Subject to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, not more than seven days in the case of a repair under RCW 59.20.130(3);

     (4) Not more than thirty days in all other cases.

     In each instance the burden shall be on the landlord to see that remedial work under this section is completed with reasonable promptness.

     Where circumstances beyond the landlord's control, including the availability of financing, prevent the landlord from complying with the time limitations set forth in this section, the landlord shall endeavor to remedy the defective condition with all reasonable speed.

[1984 c 58 § 6.]

Notes: Severability -- 1984 c 58: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1984 c 58 § 18.]