Evictions about rent
If your landlord claims you owe rent, they may start an eviction process but must follow certain steps, including giving you a 14 Day (or in some cases 30 Day) Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate. Read this guide to understand evictions about rent in most residential tenant situations.
If you own your home and rent lot space in a mobile home park, read about evictions from mobile home parks. The rules about eviction notices are different in mobile home parks.
Contents
1. Behind on rent?
If you rent the place where you live (dwelling), landlords may try to end your tenancy if you do not pay rent on time.
“Rent” includes any amount you pay regularly, such as monthly charges like utilities, storage fees, or payments on an installment plan. “Rent” does not include nonrecurring charges, like damages, late fees, or deposits. You can read the definition of “rent” at RCW 59.18.030(29).
Landlords must first give you a notice (sometimes called an “eviction notice” or “termination notice”) saying how much you owe in rent. Your landlord must then give you a certain amount of time (at least 14 days) to pay the balance owed in rent or to move out (vacate).
Generally, landlords in Washington must give you a 14-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate that looks similar to the notice in Washington’s Residential-Landlord Tenant Act at RCW 59.18.057. Washington’s Attorney General has 12 translations of the 14-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate. The notice must inform you of certain tenant rights.
The 14-Day Notice is a warning from your landlord. If you do not pay the amount owed by the notice deadline, your landlord may start the court eviction process (called an “Unlawful Detainer Action”) and serve you with court papers called a Summons and Complaint. Landlords cannot remove you from the rental or lock you out without a court order signed by a judge.