Property Management in Burien, WA

Reviewed by Gary E. Wilson, President & Designated Broker · Managing Greater Seattle rentals since 1982

Owning rental property in Burien means tapping into one of south King County's most dynamic and accessible markets, but it also means handling tenant calls, maintenance emergencies, rent collection, and ever-changing Washington landlord-tenant law. Wilson Management, Inc. has helped Puget Sound owners do exactly that since 1982. From single-family homes near Olde Burien to apartment communities close to SeaTac International Airport, our team handles the day-to-day work of protecting and growing your investment so you don't have to. With more than 40 years of local experience, we bring proven systems and personal accountability to every Burien property we manage.

Full-Service Property Management in Burien

Wilson Management provides true full-service management, which means we handle the entire rental lifecycle from the first listing to the final move-out inspection. Our property management services include professional marketing and leasing, thorough tenant screening, rent collection, coordinated maintenance and repairs, routine property inspections, lease enforcement, evictions when necessary, and clear monthly financial reporting. Owners and residents both stay informed through secure AppFolio online portals, where you can review statements and tenants can pay rent and submit maintenance requests around the clock.

Burien is one of many Puget Sound communities we serve. To see the full footprint of our local coverage, visit our areas we serve page. Whatever the property type or location, our goal is the same: keep your units occupied with quality residents, keep your expenses controlled, and keep you informed.

Why Burien Owners Choose Wilson Management

Burien property owners choose Wilson Management because experience matters. Founded in 1982 and led by President Gary E. Wilson, our firm has spent more than four decades managing residential and commercial property across the greater Seattle area. That longevity reflects steady relationships with owners, vendors, and residents who trust us to do the work right.

We are also active members of respected industry organizations, including the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHAWA), and the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA). These affiliations keep us current on best practices, fair-housing requirements, and the evolving regulations that affect Washington rental owners. When you combine that knowledge with hands-on, locally accountable service, you get a management partner who treats your property like an investment worth protecting.

The Burien Rental Market

Burien is a city of roughly 51,500 residents in south King County, positioned between Seattle and SeaTac International Airport (Source: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year estimates, as of Jun 2026). It is a notably diverse community: about 26.1% of residents are foreign-born, and the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (47.9%), Hispanic (23.1%), and Asian (15.0%) (Source: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year estimates, as of Jun 2026). The median household income is approximately $91,318, which supports a deep pool of working renters drawn to Burien's relative affordability compared with central Seattle and the Eastside (Source: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year estimates, as of Jun 2026).

On the rental side, the overall average apartment rent in Burien is about $1,960 per month, up 2.26% against the same point a year earlier (Source: RentCafe, as of July 2026). By unit type, one-bedroom apartments average around $1,750, two-bedrooms around $2,055, and three-bedrooms around $2,438 (Source: RentCafe, as of July 2026). RentCafe publishes no studio average for the city. The median owner-occupied home value is approximately $638,800 (Source: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year, as of July 2026), well below Eastside levels, which is a large part of why the city holds a deep pool of working renters.

That year-over-year increase is worth pausing on, because it runs against the county. The King County markets we manage in have generally eased over the past year — Renton, Kent, Auburn, Redmond and Bellevue all softened — while Burien and its immediate neighbors along the airport corridor rose. A market that is firming rewards a different approach from one that is falling: renewals are worth more, there is less risk in holding a listing for the right applicant, and the statewide rent cap in force since 2025 is far more likely to be the binding constraint on an increase here than it is in a flat market.

For owners, the combination of strong transit access, proximity to the airport and Seattle job centers, and rents that remain more attainable than the urban core makes Burien an appealing place to hold rental property. The walkable Olde Burien district and Puget Sound shoreline at Three Tree Point add lifestyle appeal that helps attract and retain quality residents.

Types of Burien Properties We Manage

Wilson Management works with a broad range of property types throughout Burien and the surrounding south King County area:

  • Single-family homes: Detached rentals, including homes near Olde Burien and the Three Tree Point shoreline.
  • Apartment communities: Stabilized and value-add apartment buildings, including properties near transit and the SeaTac airport corridor.
  • Multi-family properties: Duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and small to mid-size multi-family buildings.
  • Commercial property: Retail, office, and mixed-use spaces that benefit from professional leasing and lease administration.

Whether you own a single rental house or a multi-building portfolio, we tailor our services to your asset and your goals.

Where We Manage in Burien

We manage across the city, including Olde Burien, Boulevard Park, Gregory Heights, Seahurst, Three Tree Point, the Lake Burien area, Sunnydale, Salmon Creek, Manhattan and the Ambaum corridor. If your property is in Burien and not on that list, it is still very likely somewhere we work — ask.

Burien Has Its Own Landlord Rules, and They Go Beyond State Law

This is the part of managing in Burien that catches owners out, and it is the main reason a Burien rental is not simply a Kent or Federal Way rental with a different address. Burien was among the first cities in Washington to adopt its own tenant protections, and several of them are stricter than the state default. The summary below reflects the municipal code as of July 2026; local ordinances change, so confirm current requirements with the city or your own counsel before relying on them.

Late fees are capped at $10 per month, and nothing else may be charged. Under BMC 5.63.090, a fee for late payment of rent may not exceed $10.00 per month, and no other fee may be charged for late payment — expressly including the cost of serving any notice required under state law, court costs and attorneys' fees. Any lease provision purporting to charge more is void as to that provision. This matters practically: a standard Washington lease template, used unchanged in Burien, will contain clauses that are unenforceable here. A pay-or-vacate notice served under RCW 59.12.030(3) also has to carry prescribed language in at least 16-point bold type.

Eviction requires just cause, from a defined list. BMC 5.63.070 sets out fourteen enumerated just-cause grounds, and a termination has to rest on one of them. Some carry their own procedural requirements — the substantial-rehabilitation ground, for instance, requires at least 120 days' written notice and at least one issued permit before the tenancy is terminated.

Larger properties fall under a rental housing safety inspection program. Burien runs an inspection program under BMC Chapter 5.62, which began in 2021. Properties subject to it must be inspected once every three years on a zone-based schedule, and a certificate of inspection from a qualified rental housing inspector has to be filed with the city, based on a physical inspection carried out no more than 90 days before the certificate date. The chapter expressly does not apply to single-family residences, condominiums and townhomes, accessory dwelling units, mobile or manufactured homes, units unavailable for rent, or government-operated units (BMC 5.62.040(1)). So the owner of a single rental house in Burien sits outside the inspection program, while the owner of a fourplex does not — a distinction that is easy to get backwards.

Licensing carries real penalties, so we confirm status rather than assume it. BMC 5.62.040(2) requires owners and landlords renting residential units in the city to obtain and maintain a business license under Chapter 5.05 BMC, and the penalty for operating without one runs at $100 per day for the first ten days of noncompliance and $250 per day after that. How that requirement interacts with the exemptions above is not something to guess at on a website, so we establish a property's licensing position with the city before it goes on the market.

Burien's own rent-increase section has been repealed — do not act on old advice. Owners still occasionally arrive with guidance about Burien requiring 120 or 180 days' notice for larger rent increases. That provision, BMC 5.63.100, was repealed by Ordinance 871. Rent increases in Burien are now governed by Washington's statewide framework under HB 1217, in force since 2025, which sets the maximum allowed increase and its own notice requirements. Applying a repealed local rule is a good way to delay an increase you were entitled to take, or to miss a requirement that does still apply.

Our Property Management Process

We keep management straightforward and transparent with a proven six-step process:

  1. Rental analysis and pricing. We evaluate your property and the local market to recommend a competitive rent that maximizes income while minimizing vacancy.
  2. Marketing and leasing. We prepare and list your property, field inquiries, and conduct showings to attract qualified prospects quickly.
  3. Tenant screening. We screen applicants for credit, income, rental history, and background to place reliable, well-qualified residents.
  4. Rent collection and reporting. We collect rent through the AppFolio portal and deliver clear monthly financial statements so you always know where you stand.
  5. Maintenance and inspections. We coordinate repairs with trusted vendors and perform routine inspections to protect your property's condition and value.
  6. Lease enforcement and renewals. We enforce lease terms, handle evictions when required, and manage renewals to keep good residents in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does property management cost in Burien?

Management fees depend on the property type, number of units, and services required. The best way to get an accurate quote for your Burien property is to request a free rental analysis so we can review the specifics.

What areas around Burien do you serve?

Wilson Management serves Burien and many surrounding communities throughout the greater Seattle and Puget Sound region. See our areas we serve page for details.

How do you screen tenants?

We conduct thorough screening that reviews credit history, income and employment, rental history, and background, all in compliance with Washington and federal fair-housing law, to place reliable residents.

How and when will I receive my rental income?

Rent is collected through our secure AppFolio portal, and owners receive clear monthly financial statements along with their distributions, accessible anytime through the owner portal.

Do you manage commercial property in Burien?

Yes. In addition to single-family, apartment, and multi-family rentals, we manage commercial property and handle the leasing and lease administration these assets require.

What is the average rent in Burien?

The overall average apartment rent in Burien is about $1,960 per month, up 2.26% year over year, with one-bedrooms averaging roughly $1,750, two-bedrooms around $2,055 and three-bedrooms around $2,438 (Source: RentCafe, as of July 2026). Burien is one of the few markets in the area that rose over the past year while most of King County eased. That is a citywide apartment figure and a starting point rather than a valuation — request a free rental analysis for a number specific to your property.

Do I need a license to rent out my house in Burien?

Burien requires owners and landlords renting residential units in the city to hold a business license under Chapter 5.05 BMC, and the penalty for operating without a required license runs at $100 per day for the first ten days and $250 per day thereafter (BMC 5.62.040(2), as of July 2026). The city's rental housing inspection program separately exempts single-family residences, condominiums, townhomes and accessory dwelling units. Because the two interact, we confirm a property's licensing position with the city before it is marketed rather than assuming it.

Can I charge a late fee on a Burien rental?

Yes, but no more than $10 per month, and you may not charge anything else for late payment — including the cost of serving a notice, court costs or attorneys' fees (BMC 5.63.090, as of July 2026). A lease clause providing for more than that is void as to that provision, which is why a standard Washington lease used unchanged in Burien will contain unenforceable terms.

Does Burien have its own rent control?

Not any longer. Burien's local rent-increase section, BMC 5.63.100, was repealed by Ordinance 871, so advice about the city requiring 120 or 180 days' notice for larger increases is out of date. Rent increases are now governed by Washington's statewide framework under HB 1217, in force since 2025. Local rules do change, so confirm the current position with the city or your counsel before acting.

Is just cause required to evict a tenant in Burien?

Yes. BMC 5.63.070 sets out fourteen enumerated just-cause grounds, and a termination must rest on one of them. Several carry their own procedural requirements on top of state law.

Ready to Maximize Your Burien Rental?

Find out what your property could earn and how stress-free ownership can be. Request your free rental analysis or contact us today to speak with our team. Call (425) 453-0089, or visit our office at 1380 112th Ave NE #203, Bellevue, WA 98004, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Related resources: Seattle property management | Areas we serve | Property management services

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I have been dealing with this company for more than a decade as they manage many of my rental properties. In this regard I wish to place on record my deepest appreciation for Lisa who handles my portfolio with utmost professionalism and responds to issues promptly. She is an asset to your company.

Sampath Velamoor

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