FAIR HOUSING
We actively support and promote fair housing through education, outreach, and counseling to ensure that people have the opportunity to provide and obtain housing without discrimination.
Under the Fair Housing Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination, it is illegal to discriminate in the provision of housing based on protected classes.
In the State of Washington, protected classes include:
Race • Color • Sex • National Origin/Ancestry • Citizenship/Immigration Status • Religion/Creed • Disability • Familial Status/Parental Status • Marital Status • Sexual Orientation • Gender Identity • Military/Veteran Status
Additional protected classes can be designated by local law at the city and county level.
NOTICE: The Dispute Resolution Center does not provide legal services or legal advice.
The information provided is for educational purposes and is not an interpretation of Fair Housing Laws.
Renter Certification & Fair Housing Training
Learn more about renter and landlord rights & responsibilities and how to boost your rental résumé in one of our free classes led by a renter certification specialist.
Note: You do not have to register to attend class. Registration is optional.
Do You Have Questions About Landlord-Tenant Issues, Laws, or Discrimination?
Learn more about your rights and responsibilities.
If you are a landlord, tenant, or service provider with questions or concerns, please call the Landlord-Tenant Line or email us, so we can help you problem-solve.
Serving Snohomish, Skagit, and Island Counties
Learn more about your rights and responsibilities.
Informational Resources
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Fair Housing Brochure (Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Nepali, Vietnamese)
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Reasonable Accommodations & Modifications—Guidance For Residents With Disabilities (Provided by the Fair Housing Partners of Washington State)
File a formal complaint
Volunteers of America Western Washington does not conduct Fair Housing investigations.
Fair Housing complaints must be filed within one (1) year of the alleged harmful act or event.
Contact one of the resources here to learn more about how to proceed with a housing complaint.
Washington State
Human Rights Commission
(360) 753-6770
Northwest Fair
Housing Alliance
1-800-200-FAIR (3247)
Fair Housing Center
of Washington
(253) 274-9523
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(800) 669-9777
Notice
Potential evictions for unpaid rent from March 1, 2020, until the present are now subject to the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP), as enacted in April 2021 (SB 5160 Section 7, RCW 59.18.630).
Landlords must engage the ERPP process before an eviction for unpaid rent may proceed to court. ERPP begins when a landlord serves a tenant and sends the local dispute resolution center an ERPP Notice along with a Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate and the repayment plan offered to the tenant(s) at least 14 days prior to sending the notices to ERPP.
In some counties where a landlord sent these notices during the eviction moratorium or Bridge period for rent due from March 2020 through July 2021, new notices may be required under the ERPP.
For unpaid rent due between August and October 2021 only, previous ERPP Notices and 14 Day Notices to Pay or Vacate may be sufficient. Landlords and tenants are encouraged to consult legal counsel.