Seattle Just Cause Eviction

Seattle Just Cause Eviction

Seattle has had a just cause eviction law for many years. The Seattle just cause eviction ordinance remains in effect and the landlord must comply with the Seattle law as well as the Washington state just cause eviction laws. While these two laws overlap, there are important differences. You should consult with an eviction attorney before serving an eviction notice on a Seattle residential tenant.

Seattle residential tenants may be evicted only for reasons set out in the just cause evictions ordinance. Failure to cure a Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate or a Notice to Comply or Vacate are both just causes to evict. Other examples of just cause include an intent to sell or an intent for the landlord or immediate family member to move in.

Note that the just cause eviction law does not give the landlord power to break a lease. If a tenant is not in breach of the lease contract may remain in the rental through the term of an unexpired lease. So for example, the landlord's intent to sell or intent to move into the property can only be used to terminate a month-to-month tenancy or end the tenancy at the end of the lease period. These grounds do not allow the landlord to end a lease term early.