LOCAL RULES

Washington rental inspection report requirements

Your Washington rental inspection report has 4 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • A written move-in checklist of condition and cleanliness
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In Washington, a landlord cannot collect a deposit without a written checklist given at the start of the tenancy, signed and dated by both sides. What the checklist does not document can limit what the landlord may later withhold. Here is each rule with a link to the official text, and how to turn your walkthrough notes into a checklist that meets it.

Last reviewed October 8, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Rental inspectionWASHINGTON / SAMPLE

Sample notes, 87 words

Move-in inspection
Address: 22 Cedar Court, Unit 4B, Olympia, WA
Date: 2026-09-30
Landlord: Pinecrest Property Management
Tenant: Jordan Lee and Priya Raman
...
FREE PREVIEW OF THESE NOTES
79%of your draft is ready from these notes

We sorted 13 items into 6 sections and flagged 5 to fix soon.

  • Fix soonLiving and dining areas

    Carpet has a stain near the sofa wall.

  • Fix soonKitchen

    Dishwasher not working.

  • Fix soonKitchen

    Counter chipped near the sink.

4 Washington rules on your checklist, including a written move-in checklist of condition and cleanliness.

Still to add

  • RecommendedNotes for entry and hallways
  • RecommendedNotes for laundry and utility

Filled in for you

Inspection typeMove-in
Rental unit address22 Cedar Court, Unit 4B, Olympia, WA
Inspection dateSep 30, 2026
Landlord or property managerPinecrest Property Management
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What Washington requires

  • 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, or existing damage to, the premises, fixtures, equipment, appliances and furnishingsRevised Code of Washington 59.18.260 (2)
  • The checklist covers at least walls, including wall paint and wallpaper; carpets and other flooring; furniture; and appliancesRevised Code of Washington 59.18.260 (2) (a) to (d)
  • The checklist is signed and dated by the landlord and the tenant, the tenant gets a copy of the signed checklist, and the tenant may ask for one free replacement copyRevised Code of Washington 59.18.260 (3)
  • A landlord who collects a deposit without giving a written checklist at the start of the tenancy is liable to the tenant for the amount of the deposit, and the winning side may recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' feesRevised Code of Washington 59.18.260 (5)
  • Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant moves out, the landlord gives a full and specific statement of the basis for keeping any of the deposit, with copies of estimates or invoices that support the damage charges, together with any refund dueRevised Code of Washington 59.18.280 (1) (a) and (b)
  • Nothing may be withheld for wear from ordinary use, for carpet cleaning unless wear beyond ordinary use is documented, or for repairing or replacing fixtures, equipment, appliances and furnishings whose condition was not reasonably documented in the move-in checklistRevised Code of Washington 59.18.280 (1) (c)
  • A landlord who misses the 30 days is liable for the full deposit, and a court may award up to twice the deposit for an intentional refusal to give the statement or refundRevised Code of Washington 59.18.280 (2)

The move-in checklist

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, or existing damage to, the premises, fixtures, equipment, appliances and furnishings.

It covers at least walls, including wall paint and wallpaper; carpets and other flooring; furniture; and appliances.

Signatures and copies

The checklist is signed and dated by the landlord and the tenant, and the tenant gets a copy of the signed checklist. The tenant may ask for one free replacement copy.

A landlord who collects a deposit without giving a written checklist at the start of the tenancy is liable to the tenant for the amount of the deposit.

At move-out

Within 30 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant moves out, the landlord gives a full and specific statement of the basis for keeping any of the deposit, with copies of estimates or invoices that support the damage charges, together with any refund due.

Nothing may be withheld for wear from ordinary use, for carpet cleaning unless wear beyond ordinary use is documented, or for fixtures, equipment, appliances and furnishings whose condition was not reasonably documented in the move-in checklist. A landlord who misses the 30 days is liable for the full deposit, and a court may award up to twice the deposit for an intentional refusal.

From walkthrough notes to a finished Washington checklist

Walk the unit room by room and note both the condition and the cleanliness of each item, including walls and paint, flooring, the landlord's furniture and the appliances. ReportDraft writes the notes up as a room-by-room checklist, describing cleanliness alongside condition and damage, and prints photos under their room.

The report ends with signature lines for the landlord and the tenant, and each signature is dated. Give the tenant a copy of the signed checklist.

Common mistakes

  • Collecting a deposit before the tenant has a written checklist.
  • Recording damage but not cleanliness.
  • Skipping wall paint and wallpaper, flooring, furniture or appliances.
  • Not having both the landlord and the tenant sign and date the checklist.
  • Withholding for an appliance or fixture whose condition the checklist never documented.

Sources

Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Next review due January 8, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.