Seattle Lease Occupancy Rules

Summary

If your lease specifies single occupancy, it is legally binding, and you may not be allowed to add a roommate. Seattle law generally does not restrict reasonable occupancies, but your landlord may enforce the lease terms. Eviction processes usually require notice. Consult a local attorney for specific advice.

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I live in the city of Seattle. I want to add someone to my lease, someone that has been living with me for 5 years but isn’t on the lease, and my landlord is saying no I can’t because it’s single occupancy only and they need to leave immediately or face legal trouble. Is that right? And my apartment is one unit, but it used to be two units, they just tore down the wall in between the units to make it one. So that would tell me that I’d be able to have two people here (including myself). But landlord says ‘according to Seattle code, it’s single occupancy only’ which I don’t believe. Thank you
In Seattle, there are some regulations regarding occupancy limits:
- Landlords can set reasonable occupancy limits usually * people per bedroom plus one additional occupant.
- Seattle codes do not specifically restrict single occupancy, but it depends on your lease agreement.
Please consult with a local attorney or Seattle's Tenant Union for more information.
So if it says in my lease agreement that it’s a single occupancy, that means I can’t add a roommate? Even though everywhere else says I can?
If your lease specifies "single occupancy," it's legally binding and you might not be allowed to add a roommate. However, Seattle law does not restrict reasonable occupancies. It's advised to consult with a local attorney or Seattle's Tenant Union for clarity.
So even though they have been living with me for 5 years, they can be kicked out immediately?
While Seattle law generally doesn't restrict reasonable occupancies, if your lease specifies single occupancy, your landlord may have grounds to enforce it. However, eviction processes usually require notice. Please consult a local attorney for specific advice.