wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 6139 > Original Bill
A landlord must accept a personal check, cashier's check, or money order for any payment of rent made by a tenant, except that a landlord is not required to accept a personal check from any tenant that has had a personal check written to the landlord or the landlord's agent that has been returned for nonsufficient funds or account closure within the previous nine months. A landlord must also allow for the tenant to submit a rental payment by mail unless the landlord provides an accessible, on-site location.
A landlord may refuse to accept cash for any payment of rent made by a tenant, but shall provide a receipt for any payment made by a tenant in the form of cash when the landlord accepts cash.
A landlord shall provide, upon the request of a tenant, a written receipt for any payments made by the tenant in a form other than cash.
In the event of a late rental payment, a landlord must continue to make available to the tenant any means of payment agreed upon in the rental agreement and any means of payment previously accepted by the landlord from the tenant during the duration of the tenancy, subject to the provisions of this section.
Except upon written agreement of the landlord and tenant, any partial payment of past-due rent made by the tenant or accepted by the landlord does not constitute, nor may it be construed as, a reinstatement of the lease, and is not grounds for dismissal of any pending unlawful detainer proceeding.
Any partial payment of the amount owed in an unlawful detainer action does not alter, amend, or extend the five-court-day deadline for full payment under RCW 59.18.410.