Tenant Property Left After Abandonment
First, make certain the tenant is really “out” legally. If the tenant was not evicted through the sheriff then the tenant may not have surrendered the premises. Abandonment must be clear and unequivocal. If any significant property is left behind it is probably not abandonment.
Major changes were made to the statute that concerns the landlord’s obligations to store tenant property upon eviction that went into effect in June 2008.
Tenant Property Left After Eviction
In the event of eviction the sheriff will serve a Request for Storage form along with the writ of restitution. The tenant must return this form within three days.
If the tenant returns this form the landlord must store the tenant’s property for 30 days in a reasonably secure place. The landlord may store the belongings in the rental property.
The landlord must give notice to the tenant of the place of storage. The landlord may insist on reasonable moving and storage costs, but may not withhold the property for rent or any other reason.
RCW 59.18.310
RCW 59.18.312