Are you a landlord or a real estate investor in Washington? Do you need advice (or maybe just a refresher) on some of the eviction laws in the state?
If so, you're in the right place.
There's often a lot of confusion when it comes to legal matters with rental property. And understanding basic concepts such as eviction protection, lease enforcement, etc, will go a long way if things ever go sideways with your tenants.
In this article, we'll shed some light on all your unanswered questions and clear up any uncertainty regarding this topic.
Procedures for Eviction in Washington
Eviction proceedings under the Revised Code of Washington are clear. Landlords need to adhere to certain processes when attempting to evict a tenant.
This includes (but is not limited to) obtaining a reason for judgment from the courts prior to forcing the tenant out of the rental property.
The beginning phase is simply notifying the tenant.
And of course, the stipulations of the notice will vary based on the reasons why the eviction is occurring (failure to pay rent, broke term(s) of the lease agreement, etc).
These conditions must be met and followed as they are a part of the Washington eviction process.
Washington Eviction Defenses
You must receive a court order if you want to evict a tenant in Washington. It is unlawful for you -- as the landlord -- to evict your renter without this mandate.
Eviction protection laws prohibit such undertakings. Additionally, you cannot "twist their arm" by other means to evict tenants either.
Attempting to shut off the power, cut the water, or change the door locks is illegal. If you go this route, you could be held accountable in a court of law.
You're required to give the tenant a 3-day notice prior to applying for an eviction lawsuit. This provides the tenant time to either pay or find another home altogether.
If the dodgy tenant does pay, they can now use the payment as evidence in their tenant eviction defense.
Resources for Tenant Evictions in Washington
There are many resources available to you as a landlord. If you are in the process of evicting someone or feel as though you may be in the future, it would be prudent of you to do some research.
The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act is a great place to start.
Moreover, there's also The Eviction Resolution Program, in addition to County Specific-Resources for landlords.
Furthermore, if you own a home located in a mobile home park, and your tenant has defaulted on rent, then you can settle that dispute by utilizing the services of The Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program.
Take advantage of these (as well as other) resources. Once you're armed with the right information, taking the right steps will be a much easier thing to do.
Understanding Eviction Protection in Washington
There are many rules and regulations in regard to eviction protection in the state of Washington. And by being familiar with them as well as your and the tenants' rights, you can traverse these matters much more effectively.
If you have additional questions that you would like answered, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us today.
