(1) If the landlord and tenant agree to submit the matter to arbitration, the parties shall complete an application for arbitration and deliver it to the selected arbitrator.

(2) The arbitrator shall schedule a hearing to be held no later than ten days following receipt of the application.

(3) Reasonable notice of the hearings shall be given to the parties, who shall appear and be heard either in person, by counsel, or by other representative. Hearings shall be informal and the rules of evidence prevailing in judicial proceedings shall not be binding. Hearings may be public or private. The proceedings may be recorded. Any oral or documentary evidence and other data deemed relevant by the arbitrator may be received in evidence. The arbitrator may administer oaths, issue subpoenas, and require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, contracts, agreements, and documents deemed by the arbitrator to be material to a just determination of the issues in dispute. If a person refuses to obey a subpoena or refuses to be sworn to testify, or any witness, party, or attorney is guilty of any contempt while in attendance at any hearing held under this section, the arbitrator may invoke the jurisdiction of any district or superior court, and the court shall have jurisdiction to issue an appropriate order. Failure to obey the order may be punished by the court as contempt.

(4) Within five days after the hearing, the arbitrator shall make a written decision upon the issues presented. A copy of the decision shall be mailed by certified mail or otherwise delivered to the parties or their designated representatives. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon all parties.

(5) If a dispute exists affecting more than one tenant in a similar manner, the arbitrator may with the consent of the parties consolidate the cases into a single proceeding.

(6) Decisions of the arbitrator shall be enforced or appealed under chapter 7.04A RCW.

Application—Captions not law—Savings—Effective date—2005 c 433: See RCW 7.04A.290 through 7.04A.310 and 7.04A.900.

Severability—1984 c 58: See note following RCW 59.20.200.