Rent increases capped in WA under new legislation
Jun 2, 2025, 10:30 AM
A sign advertising units for rent is displayed outside of a Manhattan building on April 11, 2024. (Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images)
(Photo: Spencer Platt, Getty Images)
The Washington State Department of Commerce (WSDC) has announced a 10% rent increase cap for the rest of 2025, according to a statement from the department.
As part of Engrossed House Bill 1217, Chapter 209, Laws of 2025, the WSDC included a maximum annual rent increase percentage cap effective June 1, 2025, according to WSDC.
Maximum annual rent increase
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The current maximum annual rent increase percentage allowed is 10% through Dec. 31, 2025, according to WSDC.
“A landlord may not increase the rent for any type of tenancy during the first 12 months after the tenancy begins,” WSDC wrote. “After the first 12 months, a landlord may increase the rent during any 12-month period of the tenancy up to 7% plus the Consumer Price Index, or 10%, whichever is less.”
The WSDC labeled the specific calculations for the percent change in the release.
“The maximum annual rent increase percentage is calculated using the June 12-month percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, all items, for the Seattle area as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics,” according to WSDC.
The maximum annual rent increase percentage for the 2026 calendar year will be published after the June 2025 data by the federal U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is released.
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