Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 112 resources
Page 2 of 3
Home buyers & owners
Predatory Lending
(Separate Website)
Predatory loans harm borrowers by making it difficult or impossible for them to keep up with payments. Borrowers may pay unnecessary fees and excessive interest charges. If they miss their payments, they risk losing their home. Borrowers who do not meet minimum credit standards usually do pay higher interest rates, but no one should be a victim of price gouging and outrageous fees.
By: Seattle / King County Coalition for Responsible Lending
Property Tax Exemptions for Senior Citizens and Disabled People
The property tax exemption is a way to lower the property taxes you have to pay by exempting all excess levies (like school construction bonds and other levies passed by voters) and sometimes part of regular levies on your home. The program does not apply to property where you do not live a majority of the time, or to more than one acre surrounding your home.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Purchasing a Used Mobile Home in Grant or Adams County This brochure will educate you about important information to consider before buying a used mobile home within Grant and Adams counties.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Quitclaim Deeds and Life Estates Before transferring any property, it is best to consult with a lawyer to find out all the possible consequences of the transfer in your specific circumstances. Some lawyers will provide services free of charge or for a reduced fee for low-income people. Contact your local bar association for more information.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Reverse Mortgage Loans 3/05
By: Columbia Legal Services
Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure
(Separate Website)
If you are having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments or you have received a notice from your lender asking you to contact them, here are some tips to help get you back on track.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Video - Good Faith Foreclosure Mediation (& Not-So-Good)
(Separate Website)
An introduction to the "good faith" requirement in foreclosure mediation in Washington state with a dramatization of "A Very Good Faith Mediation."
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What to do If You are not Satisfied with a Construction Contractor's Work and Want to File Suit against the Contractor's Bond
0302EN - There are number of reasons why you may want to sue a construction contractor. The contractor did not finish the job you hired him to do, for example, or did not do a good job. If the contractor is bankrupt or does not have any other assets, you can sue against the contractor's bond.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Discrimination in Housing Sales and Rentals
(Separate Website)
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Washington's Law Against Discrimination prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in the sale or rental of any dwelling. The FHA also prohibits discrimination against the family of a person with a disability.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Fair Housing
(Separate Website)
Decent, safe, affordable housing is everyone's goal, but it's often barred to people with mental disabilities. There are two main reasons: too little low-income housing and too much discrimination against those who want to live in it. Here's some information about both.
By: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Fair Housing in Washington State: Top 100 FAQs for Property Owner and Managers
(Separate Website)
The Fair Housing Agencies of Washington State would like to partner with you in
affirmatively furthering your fair housing efforts by providing this guidebook for your use.
We hope to be instrumental in providing information and assistance in our joint effort to
provide fair housing for all.
By: King County Office of Civil Rights
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Fair Housing Laws
(Separate Website)
Link to the HUD web site containing comprehensive information about fair housing and links to the laws.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All
(Separate Website)
Comprehensive booklet containing information about the Fair Housing Act, what is prohibited under the law and what you can do if you are discriminated against.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Fair Housing: It's Your Right
(Separate Website)
HUD has played a lead role in administering the Fair Housing Act since its adoption in 1968. The 1988 amendments, however, have greatly increased the Department's enforcement role. First, the newly protected classes have proven significant sources of new complaints. Second, HUD's expanded enforcement role took the Department beyond investigation and conciliation into the area of mandatory enforcement.
By: U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development
Housing Discrimination & Your Civil Rights: A Fair Housing Guide for Renters and Home Buyers
(Separate Website)
Describes what housing discrimination is and what you can do if it happens to you.
By: King County Office of Civil Rights
Read this in:
Cambodian / Khmer
,
Chinese / 中文
,
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
,
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
Housing Discrmination Complaints
(Separate Website)
Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
By: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
Service Animals Questions
(Separate Website)
A service animal is one individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. This web page provides answers to frequently asked questions.
By: Washington Human Rights Commission
Where to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint
(Separate Website)
The web page tells you which agency to call to file a complaint.
By: King County
Attorney General's Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Dispute Resolution Service & Complaint Form
(Separate Website)
The Attorney General will take complaints from manufactured/mobile home tenants and landlords; investigate complaints; and attempt to negotiate an agreement. There is also an online complaint form available.
By: Washington State Attorney General
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Know Your Rights Before Purchasing a Manufactured Home
Many times the buyers do not understand all of the terms, often relying on verbal statements that are not in writing. Inform yourself well before buying!
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Landlord-Tenant Ombudservice
(Separate Website)
The Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Ombudservice helps identify issues, provides information, and assists with problem conciliation between manufactured/mobile home owners living in communities (parks) and the community owners and managers.
By: Deptartment of Community, Trade and Economic Development
Purchasing a Used Mobile Home in Grant or Adams County This brochure will educate you about important information to consider before buying a used mobile home within Grant and Adams counties.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Rules, Policies and Publications for Landlords
(Separate Website)
Here you will find resources on rules, ordinances, fair housing, public accomodations, disability rights and other considerations for landlords and property managers.
By: Seattle Office for Civil Rights
Tenants Rights under the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act 6380EN - The Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act, ("MHLTA" sometimes called the "M/MHLTA") has governed the relationship between a landlord and a tenant who rents a mobile home space since 1977. This publication discusses a tenant's rights and duties under the MHLTA.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Eviction for Non-Payment of Rent in Public and Subsidized Housing
This publication briefly describes the steps a tenant should take to avoid an eviction for nonpayment of rent when living in public or subsidized housing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Public Housing Community Service/Self-Sufficiency Requirement
Adult tenants living in Public Housing are required to spend eight hours a month performing community service or participating in an economic self-sufficiency program.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA)
9203EN - NAHASDA is a federal law passed in 1996 that was designed to give tribes more freedom to write their own rules for tribal housing. NAHASDA grants money to tribes to provide housing to tribal members.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Section 8 Certificate & Vouchers: Denial or Termination of Benefits
This publication will explain your obligations under the Section 8 program and what rights you have should the housing authority try to terminate your Section 8 assistance. The brochure also addresses some common questions raised by participants.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Public Housing Evictions 6102EN - As a public housing tenant, you have greater protection against evictions than most other tenants do. You have these protections because if you are evicted from public housing, you will lose your federal housing subsidy, often worth hundreds of dollars per month. This publication briefly explains what you should do when the Housing Authority tries to evict you from public housing.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Public Housing Grievance Procedure
As a public housing tenant, you have the right to appeal many decisions or actions taken by the Housing Authority through its administrative Public Housing Grievance Procedure. Every Housing Authority is required by federal law to adopt a written public housing grievance procedure. A copy of the agency's grievance procedure should be posted in their office and available upon request.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
HUD Housing Evictions
As a tenant living in an apartment complex where the landlord has a contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you have greater protection against evictions than most other tenants. This publication briefly describes your rights and the steps you can take to avoid an eviction. This information is important because if you are evicted, you will lose your federal housing assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Tenant Grievance and Appeals Procedure
6119EN - As a tenant living in an apartment complex financed by the Rural Housing Service (formerly the Farmers Home Administration), you have the right to appeal many decisions you disagree with that are made by your landlord through the agency's tenant grievance and appeals procedure.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Section 515: Rural Rental Housing Evictions
6120EN - As a tenant living in an apartment complex financed by the Rural Housing Service (formerly the Farmers Home Administration), you have greater protection against evictions than most other tenants. You may also be paying less than market rent for your apartment. It is important to understand that tenants who are evicted from such housing may lose their federal housing assistance. Because of this, you should do whatever you can to avoid an eviction. This publication briefly describes the steps a tenant can take to avoid an eviction.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
A Guide for Immigrants, Limited English Persons and Their Advocates to Federally Subsidized Housing 8151EN - A detailed guide for immigrants and non-english speakers to federally subsidized housing programs.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
An Introduction to Small Claims Court
(Separate Website)
This brochure is intended to be a general statement of small claims procedure.
By: Administrative Office of the Courts
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How to Use Small Claims Court to Recover Wages If you are owed wages by your employer, you may use Small Claims Court to attempt to recover them. This publication contains instructions on the process.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Small Claims Court In Small Claims Court, a person may sue for up to $5,000. This court is meant to be a relatively quick, inexpensive way to resolve disputes that you've been unable to settle. The Small Claims Court is not complicated. Lawyers generally cannot participate and there are no juries, motions or objections. There is only a small charge for filing the lawsuit. A trial may be obtained much sooner than in other courts, and most trials are short, lasting about 20 minutes.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Basic Information for Tenants
(Separate Website)
Just as important as knowing the law is knowing how to use it to protect yourself as a renter. With a few exceptions, landlord-tenant laws are considered "self help?" it is up to individual tenants to get their rights enforced. You cannot call the police if your landlord has refused to return your deposit or is unwilling to make a repair.
By: Solid Ground
Can I Get My Security Deposit Back?
6370EN - This publication gives step-by-step instructions on how to prepare to get your security deposit back and what to do if your landlord does not return your deposit.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Deposits
(Separate Website)
General information about the rental deposit process and links to applicable laws and related resources.
By: Solid Ground
Domestic Violence and Your Housing Rights
(Separate Website)
Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking have protections under the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18).
By: King County Office of Civil Rights
Read this in:
Cambodian / Khmer
,
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
,
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
Housing Search
(Separate Website)
Information about how to prepare for a housing search and links to sites that list available housing units.
By: Solid Ground
HUD Subsidized Apartment Finder
(Separate Website)
A search web site to find available subsidized apartments in Washington state.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
I am a Tenant Living in a Foreclosed Property. What are my Rights?
6122EN - If you rent your home, and your home was sold at a foreclosure sale, federal law requires the new owner to notify you at least 90 days before evicting you. You must still honor the obligations of your lease or rental agreement during this time period.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Landlord/Tenant Issues For Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and/or Stalking Tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking now have increased protection under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RLTA). The RLTA is found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 59.18). The law applies only to the rental of residential premises such as an apartment or house, or where both the mobile home and the space are rented in a mobile home park.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Letter to Landlord for Return of a Security Deposit - Interactive Interview
This online interview provides a completed demand letter for return of a rental security deposit in Washington State. Use this program if you did not receive or only partially received a refund of your rental security deposit from a previous landlord and wish to send a demand letter requesting that it be returned to you.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Mediation: Should I Use It?
(Separate Website)
3226EN - Mediation is an informal way to resolve disputes without going to court. The parties attempt to negotiate a mutually agreeable settlement with the help of a neutral mediator. Mediation can be used in many types of disputes.
By: Legal Voice
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
My Landlord Locked Me Out: What Can I Do? Read this publication if you rent an apartment or house and your landlord changed the locks so that you cannot get into your place and you had no plans to move.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
DOCX File
Rental Agreements
(Separate Website)
Lots of information about the different types of rental agreements, the law and breaking a rental agreement.
By: Solid Ground
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
Home Page
PDF File
Choose Another Location
Amharic / Amharic
