Certificate of Rental Suitability, on time for every lease and every request
After Nov 1, 2026 the certificate becomes the document that decides whether you can collect rent or file an eviction. Timing is everything.
Included with licensing. Standalone pulls $49 per certificate or included in annual monitoring.
- Pulled in eCLIPSE with owner attestation
- Delivered with the Partners for Good Housing handbook
- Pulled within 30 days of any eviction filing
- Tenant request responses inside the 10-day window
- Delivery proof kept on file for court
What the certificate is
A Certificate of Rental Suitability is a free document issued through eCLIPSE. It confirms the property has a valid rental license and no open code violations, and includes the owner's attestation that smoke detectors and fire protection meet code. You give it to the tenant, together with the city's Partners for Good Housing handbook.
When you need one
| Situation | Timing rule |
|---|---|
| New tenancy starts | Issued no more than 60 days before the start date |
| Tenant asks for a current certificate (from Nov 1, 2026) | Deliver within 10 days, dated within the prior 30 days |
| Filing an eviction (from Nov 1, 2026) | Dated no more than 30 days before filing |
| Lease renewal | L&I guidance says pull a new one; we do it by default |
Why owners get stuck
eCLIPSE will not issue a certificate while the license is expired or any violation is open, including old cases the owner never knew about. We check first, clear the blockers, then pull the certificate and document delivery so you can prove compliance if a tenant or a judge asks.
Questions
Does the Certificate of Rental Suitability cost anything?
How do I give the certificate to my tenant?
Related services
Get licensed before Nov 1.
$500 flat service fee per property + city fees at cost. We handle the city, the paperwork, and the follow-up.