Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

Re: limit of people in 2 bedroom apt.

Washington landlord tenant law does not address capacity of units. It verges on discrimination based on famil composition. If you have a couple and their eight children in an apartment next door, there is no remedy at law for you because to evict them based on there being too many people for the space would be discriminatory.

Your thoughts about limits on the number of people living in one dwelling unit could be coming from a county or city ordinance, but it is not based on State law.

State law allows a landlord to know who is living in their premises, and to require that the tenant not have unreasonable numbers of overnight guests. Private rental contracts and state law read together can also require that tenants observe "quiet hours" and otherwise respect other tenants rights to peacable enjoyment of their homes.

If a tenant engages in drug related or gang type activity, you can ask the landlord to commence unlawful detainer proceedings, but please note that you have to be able to prove what you allege.

If you have loud noisy neighbors, you can tell your landlord in writing and ask to be moved to a new unit.

If that isn't appropriate for your situation, ask to have your lease terminated and move out.

You can always vote with your feet. You pay thousands of dollars a year for rent, and if the place is not satisfactory, you have the right to move to a quieter place with a landlord who takes tenant comfort more seriously. Check the RLTA for the notice provisions required.

Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell