State Specific Question About: WASHINGTON (WA)

Use your attorneys business address,

Use the new Post Office system where the box has a street address,

Collect the rent every month so that you or your representative will visit the property,

Hi Jules

Well the 1st bit of advise is to learn the Wa state statutes..

It may require a actual address for a LL of less that a apt complex... or maybe not

Waiver:

consider if you opt for auto payment, again some states consider that acceptence of the terms so if it late or partial.. or something has changed you may have allowd a waiver from your rental agreemet terms..

Me they mail it to me or present it to a mail drop location... so no actual proof I got it on a time or day..

then a reciept is emailed auto once posted

This was the only thing I found on the Code:

(14) Designate to the tenant the name and address of the person who is the landlord by a statement on the rental agreement or by a notice conspicuously posted on the premises.

I give them a deposit slip with my account number and my name on it and the amount filled in. I tell them to take the deposit to the teller, the teller will give them a receipt. Now that there is online banking, I can see if and when they have made a payment (it shows up in 30 minutes on line), I tell them if the bank sheet shows they are late, to add a late fee....or I will be delivering them a notice. I can transfer money to another account (if you are worried). They don't have ID or my pass code for a withdrawl (if you are worried).....has worked almost flawlessly for 25 years, the almost was when I had 2 units at the same rent and did not know who made the payment. I now have rents at $650 $651 $652 for different units to cure that issue.

We use a UPS box since it has a street address not just a box number. But if they know your name and you are listed in the phone book they can find your home address any time they want.

Jules, For only 1 property, I'd set up a DEPOSIT ONLY account at YOUR bank. Watch it online and transfer rent to your regular business account.

Start now: you are the manager, working for the owners. The UPS Store can accept your mail and forward it to you, keeping your sleeping address private.

Or...Tell them all other correspondence MUST be by email and receive a confirming reply from you.

Collect in person? NO! Too dangerous even in a nice area. They get ALL other bills paid on time all by their grown-up selves! I tell folks at lease signing "If you see me at your door to collect rent, I'm really there to deliver the eviction papers" and smile nicely.

Nugget: set up a free EIN number with the IRS for things like turning on utilities between residents. It replaces your social security number.

PLEASE!! Every news story about a LL being murdered has neighbors saying "but the shooter was such a nice guy."

We now use a p.o. Box for any business that deals with our rentals, because the last tenant have stalked us until recently we had to get a protection order to stop it.