Landlord-tenant and eviction law has been completely overhauled. New laws at every level impact the rights of landlords and tenants and the eviction process. Most of the changes are permanent.

Washington state law guarantees tenants the right to free legal counsel and requires just cause to terminate any residential tenancy.

Residential landlords may no longer evict based on a "20-day" notice. To end the tenancy because the lease expired requires a notice served at least 60 days prior to the end of the lease term, and is not always an option. If all authorized tenants vacate, residential landlords must offer other occupants (even if unauthorized) who have been living in the property for at least six months a chance to apply to join the rental agreement.

There is a litany of new local landlord-tenant and eviction laws throughout Washington. In both Tacoma and Seattle, residential landlords have to contend with a winter eviction ban and a school-year eviction ban. Laws in many localities require additional language on notices and/or additional documents to be served with notices. A landlord must comply with local laws at the city and county levels and with court rules in each county. Interpretation of state and federal laws varies in fundamental ways from county to county.

Local know-how is more important than ever when considering a landlord-tenant attorney.

This website is published by an eviction lawyer who practices in various Washington counties. There is also a lawyer directory where you may find an attorney near you in counties we do not cover. We are not affiliated with any of the attorneys in the directory nor do we accept anything of value for listings in the directory.

Any information on this website, including but not limited to any forms posted, is not a substitute for legal advice. It is always best to consult with a lawyer before taking any action.

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$100,000 in Attorney Fees Awarded in Service Animal Dispute

A Florida condominium resident who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was awarded $5,000 in damages by a jury and over $100,000 in attorney fees by the court.[1] The condominium association had a twenty-five pound weight restriction for dogs. Ajit Bhogaita, a resident, acquired a dog that exceeded the weight limit. Bhogaita suffered from PTSD […]

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Property Damaged By Tenants – What Should You Do?

Sadly, it is not unusual for tenants facing eviction to take ‘revenge’ (or to recoup what they see as their losses) by damaging your property or stealing things like appliances. Obviously this is not a situation in which any landlord wishes to find themselves. Tenant-inflicted damage (especially if willful and malicious) can cost thousands of dollars to […]

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Evicting a Family Member

In many jurisdictions the typical expedited eviction process is not available to evict a family member. In some jurisdictions, rather than evicting a family member through the unlawful detainer process – which is the expedited eviction process applicable to landlord-tenant relationships – the family member can only be evicted through an ejectment action, which is […]

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Looking For Honesty Is The Best Policy

Looking For Honesty Is The Best Policy The vast majority of those in rented accommodation are good tenants who pay their rent on time and never cause their landlords any unnecessary trouble. Unfortunately however sometimes a good tenant can go bad and what was a happy, mutually beneficial relationship breaks down with it. On other […]

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When to Evict?

When To Evict? How New Landlords Can Know When To Start Eviction Proceedings All landlords would happily go their whole lives without having to evict any of their tenants. When eviction proceedings are called for, it means that something has obviously gone very wrong in the agreement. Making the decision to evict can be a very difficult […]

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The Fair Credit Reporting Act and Landlord-Tenant Law

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) went into effect in 1971.  It regulates consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), the use of reports, and furnishers of information to CRAs. Some states have similar statutes.[1] CRAs CRAs must utilize reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of information and must conduct an investigation after a consumer disputes […]

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Landlord Duty to Deliver Possession

“English” Rule The covenant to deliver possession is enforceable against the landlord when a third party wrongfully remains in possession at the time the tenant is entitled to possession. The landlord’s obligation is to ensure actual possession, not a mere right of possession. This is the long-established rule in England and is followed by a […]

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Advice For New Landlords

by Eve Pearce With housing prices remaining relatively low, some are looking to rent out their existing property when moving on rather than selling at a price lower than the purchase while others are using this time of more affordable housing to buy an investment property as a provision for the future. Whatever the reason, […]

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