Have you ever wondered where the money goes when applicants apply for rentals?

• Are landlords pocketing the extra cash, and not issuing a refund?
• What does the money buy?
• Where is the notice & intent?
• What exactly is dug into during this background check??
• Did you give or get a receipt?

Washington Legislature has declared that landlord must!

Read the law yourself! And tell them to use ASCWASH.com!

(1) If a landlord uses a tenant screening service, then the landlord may only charge for the costs incurred for using the tenant screening service under this section.

If a landlord conducts his or her own screening of tenants, then the landlord may charge his or her actual costs in obtaining the background information, but the amount may not exceed the customary costs charged by a screening service in the general area. The landlord's actual costs include costs incurred for long distance phone calls and for time spent calling landlords, employers, and financial institutions.

(2) A landlord may not charge a prospective tenant for the cost of obtaining background information under this section unless the landlord first notifies the prospective tenant in writing of what a tenant screening entails, the prospective tenant's rights to dispute the accuracy of information provided by the tenant screening service or provided by the entities listed on the tenant application who will be contacted for information concerning the tenant, and the name and address of the tenant screening service used by the landlord.

(3) Nothing in this section requires a landlord to disclose information to a prospective tenant that was obtained from a tenant screening service or from entities listed on the tenant application which is not required under the federal fair credit reporting act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.

(4) Any landlord who violates this section may be liable to the prospective tenant for an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars. The prevailing party may also recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.

[1991 c 194 § 3.]

Notes:

Findings -- 1991 c 194: "The legislature finds that tenant application fees often have the effect of excluding low-income people from applying for housing because many low-income people cannot afford these fees in addition to the rent and other deposits which may be required. The legislature further finds that application fees are frequently not returned to unsuccessful applicants for housing, which creates a hardship on low-income people. The legislature therefore finds and declares that it is the policy of the state that certain tenant application fees should be prohibited and guidelines should be established for the imposition of other tenant application fees.

The legislature also finds that it is important to both landlords and tenants that consumer information concerning prospective tenants is accurate. Many tenants are unaware of their rights under federal fair credit reporting laws to dispute information that may be inaccurate. The legislature therefore finds and declares that it is the policy of the state for prospective tenants to be informed of their rights to dispute information they feel is inaccurate in order to help prevent denials of housing based upon incorrect information." [1991 c 194 § 1.]