- Washington landlords owe a defined set of written disclosures at or before lease signing — most are spread across federal law and RCW 59.18, not a single form.
- The core items: lead-based paint (pre-1978), mold information, the landlord's name and address for notices, a move-in checklist and deposit receipt, nonrefundable-fee language, and a smoke detector / fire safety notice.
- Skipping one can be costly — a missing deposit checklist can make the entire deposit refundable, and a missing lead disclosure carries federal penalties.
- This is general information for Vancouver, WA and Clark County owners, not legal advice. VPMG hands every owner a complete, current disclosure packet.
If you are renting out a home in Vancouver, WA, one of the most common questions is simple but high-stakes: what information must a landlord give a tenant? Washington answers that question in pieces — some disclosures come from federal law, others from the state's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18) — and missing even one can expose you to penalties or a lost security-deposit dispute. This guide walks through every one of the required landlord disclosures in Washington State, the exact statute behind each, and when it applies, so you can build a complete, defensible packet for every tenancy. It sits alongside our broader overview of Washington State rental laws and the new rules summarized in House Bill 1217.
Required Landlord Disclosures in Washington at a Glance
Here is the full checklist of disclosures, the authority behind each, and when it applies. Use it as a master list when you assemble your lease packet.
| Disclosure | Statute / Authority | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-based paint disclosure + EPA pamphlet | Federal — 42 U.S.C. §4852d (Title X §1018); 40 CFR 745 | Housing built before 1978 |
| Mold & indoor air quality information | RCW 59.18.060(13) | Every tenancy |
| Landlord / agent name & address for notices | RCW 59.18.060(15) | Every tenancy |
| Move-in condition checklist | RCW 59.18.260 | Whenever a deposit is collected |
| Deposit receipt + depository name & location | RCW 59.18.270 | Whenever a deposit is held |
| Nonrefundable fee designated in writing | RCW 59.18.285 | If any fee is nonrefundable |
| Smoke detector / fire safety notice | RCW 59.18.060(12); RCW 43.44.110 | Every tenancy; expanded for multifamily |
| Third-party / submetered utility billing terms | Third Party Utility Billing Act (RCW ch. 59) | If tenants are billed for shared utilities |
| Flood risk disclosure | SB 6237 (amends RCW 59.18) | Leases entered after Dec. 31, 2026 |
This article is general information for Washington landlords, not legal advice. Statutes change — confirm current requirements with a Washington attorney before relying on any single item.
The Disclosures Washington Landlords Must Give Tenants
1. Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (Pre-1978 Housing)
This is a federal requirement, not a Washington one, and it applies to almost every rental built before 1978. Under Section 1018 of Title X (42 U.S.C. §4852d) and the implementing rule at 40 CFR Part 745, before a tenant signs the lease the landlord must: (1) give the tenant the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home," (2) disclose any known lead-based paint or hazards and provide any related records, and (3) include a Lead Warning Statement with tenant and landlord signatures, either inside the lease or as an attachment. Failing to deliver it can trigger civil penalties and, in some cases, treble damages — making this the single most expensive disclosure to forget.
2. Mold and Indoor Air Quality Information
Washington requires landlords to provide tenants with information — provided or approved by the state Department of Health — about the health hazards of indoor mold and how to control its growth. The requirement lives at RCW 59.18.060(13), and it can be delivered individually in writing or posted conspicuously. For a deeper walk-through of prevention, responsibility, and tenant complaints, see our guide to handling mold in Washington rentals.
3. The Landlord's (or Agent's) Name and Address for Notices
Every Washington tenant must know whom to serve with notices and demands. RCW 59.18.060(15) requires the landlord to designate, in the rental agreement or by a conspicuous posted notice, the name and address of the person who is the landlord. If the owner lives out of state, they must designate an in-state resident authorized to receive service of process. This is the disclosure people are reaching for when they search for an "agency disclosure form rental" — for an ordinary lease it is simply identifying the landlord or the licensed property manager who signs on the owner's behalf. (The separate real-estate agency pamphlet under RCW 18.86 governs brokerage relationships in sales, not standard residential leasing.)
4. Move-In Condition Checklist (When a Deposit Is Collected)
RCW 59.18.260 is unforgiving: no deposit may be collected unless the rental agreement is in writing and the landlord gives the tenant, at the start of the tenancy, a written checklist or statement describing the condition and cleanliness of the unit, fixtures, equipment, appliances, and furnishings. The checklist must be signed and dated by both parties. Skip it, and the landlord becomes liable to the tenant for the full amount of the deposit. This is the backbone of any later deductions — our deep dive on security deposits in Washington covers how to use it correctly.
5. Deposit Receipt and Where the Money Is Held
Closely tied to the checklist, RCW 59.18.270 requires the landlord to provide a written receipt for the deposit and written notice of the name, address, and location of the bank or financial institution holding it — and to notify the tenant of any later change. Deposits must be held in a trust account separated from the landlord's personal funds.
6. Nonrefundable Fees Must Say So in Writing
This is the answer to many "financial disclosure requirements for landlords" searches. Under RCW 59.18.285, a landlord may not call a nonrefundable payment a "deposit," and any nonrefundable fee must be set out in a written rental agreement that clearly specifies that the fee is nonrefundable. If the writing or that language is missing, the fee is treated as a refundable deposit — meaning you may have to give it back.
7. Smoke Detectors and Fire Safety
RCW 59.18.060(12) requires a written notice that the dwelling is equipped with a smoke detection device as required by RCW 43.44.110. For multifamily buildings, the notice expands to disclose whether the detectors are hard-wired or battery-operated, the presence of fire sprinkler and alarm systems, the smoking policy, and the building's emergency notification and evacuation plan. Fire-safety equipment also ties into your broader duty to keep the unit fit and livable — see our guide to habitability laws in Washington.
8. Utility Billing When Tenants Are Billed for Shared Service
If you bill tenants for master-metered, submetered, or ratio-allocated utilities, Washington's Third Party Utility Billing Act requires clear written disclosure of the billing methodology — how each tenant's share is calculated and the terms of the arrangement — and the rental agreement must spell this out. For water and wastewater specifically, additional notice rules apply before separate billing begins on an existing tenancy. Because submetering setups vary, confirm the exact obligations for your building before the first bill goes out.
9. Flood Risk (New for Leases After December 31, 2026)
Following severe Western Washington flooding in late 2025, the Legislature passed SB 6237, amending RCW 59.18. For leases entered after December 31, 2026, landlords must disclose whether the property sits in a special flood hazard area or area of potential flooding, note that the landlord's insurance does not cover the tenant's belongings, and recommend renter's and flood insurance. Clark County owners along the Columbia and lower-lying areas should plan for this now.
A Note on Asbestos
Many owners of older Vancouver homes search specifically for a "landlord asbestos disclosure." Unlike lead paint and mold, Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act does not impose a dedicated asbestos disclosure form on residential landlords. That said, you cannot conceal a known hazard, and federal OSHA plus Washington Labor & Industries rules govern asbestos whenever renovation or demolition might disturb it. Disclosing known asbestos-containing materials in pre-1980 buildings is smart risk management even though no single rental statute requires a form for it.
Bar width reflects how often each disclosure applies across typical rentals. The top four reach nearly every Vancouver, WA tenancy.
Building a Landlord Disclosure Form Template
There is no single state form that captures everything — which is exactly why searchers look for a "landlord disclosure form template." A complete Washington packet assembles the pieces above into one signed set:
- Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure + the EPA pamphlet (pre-1978 only)
- Mold / indoor air quality information addendum
- Landlord or agent name and address for notices
- Move-in condition checklist, signed and dated by both parties
- Deposit receipt with the depository name, address, and location
- Written nonrefundable-fee language, if any fee is nonrefundable
- Smoke-detector and fire-safety notice (expanded for multifamily)
- Utility billing methodology, if tenants are billed for shared service
Have the tenant initial each item to document receipt, and keep the signed packet for the life of the tenancy. Several of these items are delivered as lease addendums attached to the main agreement, and knowing what tenants are entitled to under the same statutes — see renters' rights in Washington — helps you draft each disclosure correctly the first time.
The disclosures aren't paperwork for its own sake — each one is the document that protects you in a dispute. The deposit checklist alone is the difference between keeping a deduction and refunding the whole deposit.
Let VPMG Handle Compliance
VPMG Property Management gives every Vancouver, WA owner a complete, current disclosure packet built into the lease — lead paint, mold, deposit checklist, fire safety, and the rest — so nothing slips through. Reach us at (360) 803-2002 or info@vancouverpmg.com, or learn more about our rental leasing service and our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information must a landlord give a tenant in Washington State?
At minimum: the landlord or agent's name and address for notices (RCW 59.18.060(15)), Department of Health mold and indoor air quality information (RCW 59.18.060(13)), a written smoke-detection and fire-safety notice (RCW 59.18.060(12)), a signed move-in checklist when a deposit is collected (RCW 59.18.260), a deposit receipt with the depository name and location (RCW 59.18.270), and written nonrefundable-fee language (RCW 59.18.285). Pre-1978 housing also requires the federal lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet.
Is there a landlord disclosure form template for Washington?
Most landlords use a packet combining the federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, the EPA pamphlet, a mold addendum, a move-in checklist, and a deposit receipt. No single state form covers everything — the requirements span federal law and several sections of RCW 59.18. VPMG provides owners with a complete, current package.
Do Washington landlords have to disclose asbestos?
The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act has no specific asbestos disclosure form like it does for lead paint and mold. But landlords cannot conceal known hazards, and federal OSHA and state Labor & Industries rules govern asbestos before any renovation that could disturb it. Disclosing known asbestos in older buildings is sound risk management.
Is an agency disclosure form required for a rental?
The real-estate agency pamphlet under RCW 18.86 applies to brokerage relationships in sales, not standard residential leasing. For a rental, the key disclosure is identifying the landlord or the landlord's agent and an address for notices under RCW 59.18.060(15). A licensed property manager who signs the lease satisfies this with their name and address.
What happens if a landlord skips a required disclosure?
It depends on the disclosure. Collecting a deposit without the written checklist makes the landlord liable for the full deposit (RCW 59.18.260), and a fee not specified as nonrefundable in writing becomes a refundable deposit (RCW 59.18.285). Missing the federal lead-paint disclosure can bring civil penalties and treble damages. Most omissions also weaken the landlord's position in any later dispute.
Written by Avenir Gedarevich, Washington State Designated Broker (License #25011405) at VPMG Property Management in Vancouver, WA. Questions about your lease packet? Contact us.
