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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
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    Default Can a Landlord Rent You a Bedroom That Has No Window

    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Washington
    County of Whatcom

    A friend of mine recently moved into a brand-new apartment complex - it's less than two years old in Whatcom County. What's strange is that he and his friend rented a 2-bedroom, 1 bath apartment. However, only one of the rooms has a window in it. The other room has a closet, air vent with forced fan ventilation into the living room (which I thought was very odd), and only one door to enter/exit the room. There is no window in that room.

    My understanding of Washington State law is that every room has to have a window in it, regardless. Is there an exception to this law if the building has sprinklers, central fire suppression, etc? This building has all of that. It specifically says in the lease that this is a two-bedroom apartment.

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    16,474

    Default Re: Can a Landlord Rent You a Bedroom That Has No Window

    Quote Quoting notaloafer
    View Post
    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Washington
    County of Whatcom

    A friend of mine recently moved into a brand-new apartment complex - it's less than two years old in Whatcom County. What's strange is that he and his friend rented a 2-bedroom, 1 bath apartment. However, only one of the rooms has a window in it. The other room has a closet, air vent with forced fan ventilation into the living room (which I thought was very odd), and only one door to enter/exit the room. There is no window in that room.

    My understanding of Washington State law is that every room has to have a window in it, regardless. Is there an exception to this law if the building has sprinklers, central fire suppression, etc? This building has all of that. It specifically says in the lease that this is a two-bedroom apartment.

    Thanks in advance.
    You really need to be consulting a local real estate attorney who is familiar with your local ordinances. I am not familiar with any, anywhere that allow a bedroom to not have a window but if the apartment complex is new, it had to have been inspected so unless they pulled a fast one by creating two bedrooms out of one, after it was inspected, its probably legal.

  3. #3
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    Feb 2013
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    Default Re: Can a Landlord Rent You a Bedroom That Has No Window

    Quote Quoting llworking
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    You really need to be consulting a local real estate attorney who is familiar with your local ordinances. I am not familiar with any, anywhere that allow a bedroom to not have a window but if the apartment complex is new, it had to have been inspected so unless they pulled a fast one by creating two bedrooms out of one, after it was inspected, its probably legal.
    That's exactly what I thought, too. I contacted the local permit office to see what they have to say and I'm waiting to hear back on them.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Default Re: Can a Landlord Rent You a Bedroom That Has No Window

    It may have been split post building inspection or it may be a 1 bedroom plus a den, library, "bonus room", or something else where the room is legal but not as a bedroom and the landlord is renting it as a 2 bedroom.


    I would ask the local building inspector or Fire Marshall.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
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    272

    Default Re: Can a Landlord Rent You a Bedroom That Has No Window

    More than likely, the landlord/renter misrepresented the accommodations by calling a larger closet a bedroom.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
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    47.606 N 122.332 W in body, still at 90 S in my mind.
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    Default Re: Can a Landlord Rent You a Bedroom That Has No Window

    Surprisingly difficult to find the requirements for what constitutes a bedroom in Washingto state for anything other than adult residential facilities!

    Things that I know but cannot cite are that that there has to be a secondary egress route, that the window sill, if it's that secondary egress route, cannot be higher than 44" and that there must be smoke detectors. My guess is that this pertains to single family dwellings and not to multi-story buildings, except the smoke detectors (NFPS 96) hence the requirements for sprinklers. I cannot imagine that there is a way around the window, however. It sounds like a large closet.

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