Washington documents
Washington Security Deposit Receipt & Return
The trust-account receipt the law requires at move-in, and the 30-day itemized statement that closes the tenancy.
Reviewed September 2026 • Statewide resource
Before you use any document on this page: we recommend having your attorney review it first. Laws and required forms change, city ordinances add requirements on top of state law, and a notice that is defective in form or timing can cost far more than a legal review. This page is general information for property owners, not legal advice.
A Washington deposit generates two documents, one at each end of the tenancy. At move-in, RCW 59.18.270 requires the deposit to be placed promptly in a trust account with a financial institution or licensed escrow agent in Washington, and requires the landlord to give the tenant a written receipt for the deposit plus written notice of the name, address and location of the depository — and of any later change.
At move-out, RCW 59.18.280 gives the landlord 30 days from the end of the tenancy to refund the deposit or deliver a full and specific written statement of what was withheld and why.
The receipt is not a formality
The trust-account rule means the deposit is the tenant's money held in trust, not operating cash — the statute makes the tenant's claim to it senior to the landlord's creditors, even in bankruptcy. The receipt and depository notice are the tenant's evidence that the arrangement exists, and skipping them is the kind of small omission that colors a later dispute.
The 30-day statement
"Full and specific" is the standard for the itemization. Deductions are measured against the signed move-in checklist — without which no deposit could lawfully have been collected at all — and normal wear and tear is not deductible. Cities can add more: Seattle caps what may be collected as move-in charges in the first place, so check the Seattle deposit page for rentals there.
Official sources for this document
Frequently asked questions
Where must a Washington security deposit be held? +
In a trust account maintained for tenant deposits at a financial institution or licensed escrow agent in Washington, with a written receipt and written notice of the depository's name, address and location given to the tenant (RCW 59.18.270).
How long does a landlord have to return the deposit? +
30 days from the end of the tenancy to refund it or deliver a full and specific written statement of the basis for retaining any portion (RCW 59.18.280).
Who keeps the interest on the deposit? +
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the landlord is entitled to the interest paid on the trust account (RCW 59.18.270).
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to one of these. Rent caps change annually and city ordinances change by council action — check the current figure before serving a notice.
- RCW 59.18.270 — verified 2026-09-11
- RCW 59.18.280 — verified 2026-09-11
This page is general information for property owners, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Rules differ by property and by circumstance — consult an attorney licensed in Washington before acting on a notice, an eviction or a deposit dispute.
We serve these notices every week
Utopia Management has managed Washington rentals since 1994. Compliance with the notice periods, the caps and the paperwork above is part of full management, not an extra.
Find your local office
