Rentals in Kennewick and the Tri-Cities
For landlords and property managers
A death, an injury or a hoarded unit puts the owner in a difficult spot. Here is what Washington law expects and how to keep your staff safe.
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Your duty under state law
Under RCW 59.18.060, a Washington landlord must keep the premises fit for human habitation and keep shared areas reasonably clean, sanitary and safe. A unit or hallway with biohazards in it does not meet that standard until it has been properly cleaned.
Do not send maintenance staff in
Employers whose staff could be exposed to blood or other infectious material need a written exposure control plan under L&I's bloodborne pathogens rule (chapter 296-823 WAC). Most maintenance teams do not have one for this kind of work.
Checklist
- Confirm police and the coroner have released the unit
- Photograph the unit before cleanup, if it is safe to enter
- Tell your property insurer before work starts
- Keep the tenant's belongings separate until the next of kin or estate decides
- Ask the company for photos and a written list of what was removed
- Check the company's contractor registration with L&I (Verify a Contractor)
Related pages
Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Pasco
One call, then the decision is yours
You can call now to ask questions, even if the home has not been released yet. An independent company will tell you what happens next.
When you are ready to talk
Say what happened, where, and whether police or the coroner are still involved. The company explains what it would do and how it prices the work. Nothing is agreed until you say yes.
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