Property Management

A Washington residential tenant withholds rent claiming the heater has not worked for 3 weeks and the landlord has not responded to repair requests. Under RCW 59.18, the tenant should have:

AWithheld rent immediately on the first cold day
BGiven the landlord written notice of the problem and a reasonable time to repair before withholding rent or using the repair and deduct remedy✓ Correct
CFiled a lawsuit immediately
DMoved out and terminated the lease without notice

Explanation

Washington's repair-and-deduct remedy requires tenants to first give the landlord written notice of the habitability problem and allow a reasonable time to make repairs. Withholding rent without proper notice puts the tenant at risk of eviction for nonpayment.

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