The tenant shall be current in the payment of rent including all utilities which the tenant has agreed in the rental agreement to pay before exercising any of the remedies accorded him or her under the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, That this section shall not be construed as limiting the tenant's civil remedies for negligent or intentional damages: PROVIDED FURTHER, That this section shall not be construed as limiting the tenant's right in an unlawful detainer proceeding to raise the defense that there is no rent due and owing.
RCW 59.18.080
Payment of rent condition to exercising remedies—Exceptions.
Known as the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act
The act spans §§ 59–59 (94 sections).
Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case Pham v. Corbett (2015)
Most recently applied in Gonzales v. Inslee (September 2023)
2010 c 8 s 19019; 1973 1st ex.s. c 207 s 8.
Official source: Washington State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Washington statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.