Independent Living in Washington

Washington has earned its nickname as “The Evergreen State” for its wide swaths of coniferous forest. Many people may be most familiar with Seattle and its iconic Space Needle, but the eastern half of the state has a personality all its own, with a serene desert beauty akin to parts of Idaho or Montana. In contrast, Washington’s Pacific Coast is home to an actual rainforest. The state’s varied landscape as well as its relatively mild climate make it an ideal retirement destination.

When it comes to retirement communities, Washington state has many great options. Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 300 independent living communities in Washington. The median monthly cost of independent living in Washington is about $2,600. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you find the best retirement communities in Washington state.

Washington doesn’t regulate independent living communities unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. This means stand-alone independent living communities only need to abide by general housing and rental regulations. However, some communities do have their own residency requirements, like residents needing to be 55+, or 62+ in some cases.

Regulations for independent living communities on a senior care campus

Independent living communities sharing a building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit must follow the same policies those facilities do. The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration licenses, regulates, and inspects these facilities to ensure compliance.

Regulations for stand-alone independent living communities

Landlords and tenants are responsible for following general housing and apartment guidelines in stand-alone independent living communities since Washington doesn’t regulate them. A landlord’s duties include:^[01]

• Maintaining the premises to comply with applicable code, statute, ordinance, and regulations regarding the home
• Keeping any shared common areas reasonably clean
• Making repairs and arrangements as necessary to keep the premises in good condition
• Maintaining structural components of the dwelling, such as the roof, floors, walls, chimney(s), and fireplace(s)
• Keeping all electrical, plumbing, heating, and other facilities and appliances in good working order
• Providing a reasonable amount of heat, water, and hot water
• Giving a written notice to all tenants disclosing fire safety and protection information
• Supplying tenants with information approved by the department of health about hazards associated with indoor mold
• Providing their name and address, as well as any changes, in writing, if the property has a new landlord

Likewise, tenants have their own obligations, such as:^[02]

• Keeping the premises as clean and sanitary as possible
• Correctly disposing of garbage
• Properly using all electrical, gas, heating, plumbing, and other fixtures and appliances
• Avoiding intentionally or negligently destroying, defacing, damaging, or impairing the dwelling
• Not engaging in drug-related activity at the rental premises, or allowing a guest to do so
• Maintaining the smoke detection device
• Restoring the premises to its initial condition, outside of ordinary wear and tear, after the lease concludes

Protections against discrimination

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect tenants from renting discrimination. The Washington Law Against Discrimination similarly shields tenants from prejudice based on:^[02]

• Race
• Creed
• Color
• National origin
• Citizenship or immigration status
• Sex
• Honorably discharged veteran or military status
• Sexual orientation
• Presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability

Washington landlords must also allow tenants to make reasonable accommodations and modifications to the property. Reasonable accommodations are changes in a policy, service, or program that lets someone with a disability fully access and enjoy the dwelling. This can come in the form of things like a reserved parking space near the tenant’s unit or allowing service animals despite having a no-pets policy.

Reasonable modifications are physical changes to the property that allow someone with a disability full enjoyment and access of the home/common areas of a community. Lowering closet rods, installing an entrance ramp, and adding bathroom grab bars are all examples of reasonable modifications. In Washington, tenants usually pay for modifications unless the property receives federal funds.

How to find independent living community inspection reports

Stand-alone independent living communities may not have state-mandated inspections, but some cities and counties do require them. For example, Othello passed legislation that states landlords must obtain a rental housing license that must be annually renewed and must take part in the city’s inspection program. Because of this, it’s worth checking with an area’s housing authority to see if any regulations like that are in place.

State inspections and complaint investigations

The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration conducts unannounced assisted living facility inspections every 18 months. The department checks that infection control, emergency preparedness, general design, and life safety requirements are being met, while also interviewing staff and residents. If staff or residents file a complaint against a facility, the department conducts the same kind of investigation.

The department logs violations in a Statement of Deficiencies (SoD) report that the facility receives. The facility’s administrator must acknowledge and sign the SoD. The facility then corrects any discovered problems, while also developing systems or programs to ensure the same issues won’t occur again. The department can make unannounced inspections at any time to confirm the corrections.^[03]

Finding state inspection reports

The department’s assisted living facility locator provides a facility’s inspection, complaint, and violation history. You can find a facility by searching for its name, zip code, or city to see a list of reports. Alternatively, you can request to see specific public records using an online form. The long-term care ombudsman service is available if you’re curious about a facility’s violation history.

Washington Department of Health contact information

Washington State Department of Health
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501

Phone: 800-525-0127