Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act requires Tacoma landlords to maintain rental units free of insect infestations, including bed bugs, and to disclose recent infestation history before signing a lease under RCW 59.18.060.
RCW 59.18.060 obligates landlords to keep premises fit for habitation, control infestations not caused by the tenant, and disclose any known bed bug infestation in the unit or building within the prior year before lease signing. Tenants must avoid bringing infested furniture and report suspected bed bugs in writing within a reasonable time. Tacoma rental-housing complaints route through state and city channels, and unresolved infestations can support repair-and-deduct, rent escrow, or termination remedies under RCW 59.18.115. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department offers public guidance on identification and treatment but does not generally inspect private rentals for bed bugs absent a broader nuisance.
Landlord failure to abate or disclose can lead to tenant remedies, civil claims, and Attorney General consumer-protection actions; tenants who hide infestations may face damages claims.
See how Tacoma's bed-bug rules rules stack up against other locations.
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