AyudaLegalWashington.org

 

 

 

 

• What is this eviction moratorium?
• Can the landlord still evict me for other reasons?
• Can the sheriff still put me out?
• I own the mobile home I live in. I rent the lot. Does the eviction moratorium apply to me?
• My living arrangement is different.
• I live in public housing or other type of government housing.
• I could not live in or move into the place due to COVID-19. For example, my college closed, or I was laid off from my seasonal job.
• I rent a storefront or other commercial space.
• My landlord is trying to evict me anyway.

*Read this only if you live in the state of Washington.

 

What is this eviction moratorium?

You may be required to pay rent and utilities under your rental agreement (lease). Many people right now find themselves in an emergency. They have lost income and cannot make those payments. 

If this describes you, you should know that between now and October 15, 2020, a landlord may not try to evict you if you cannot pay the rent.

A landlord may only serve you with a notice of unlawful detainer if it says you are causing an imminent threat to health, safety, or property.

A landlord may give you a notice to move after 60 days, if the landlord wants to sell the property or move into it themselves.

A landlord may not go to court to get a writ against you for not paying the rent.

A landlord may not try to force you to move even if you agreed to move out in a stipulation or other agreement.

A landlord may not force you to move to a smaller rental if you cannot pay the rent.

A landlord may not raise the rent or increase your deposit between now and October 15, 2020.

A landlord may not charge late fees for any rent payment that you paid late or could not pay starting February 29, 2020, or report a debt for rent on your credit.  

A landlord must offer you a reasonable payment plan if you cannot pay the rent. This has to be based on your own circumstances. The same payment plan to the entire building doesn't count. You can use one of the sample letters below to propose a payment plan that works for you.

 

Can the landlord still evict me for other reasons?

A landlord can only give you an eviction notice in these situations:

• You are causing an immediate and significant threat, to the health, safety, or property of others on the property. Having COVID-19 does not count. One example of such a threat is if you are doing something that could cause a fire and refusing to fix it.

• The landlord is going to live in the place themselves. The landlord must give you 60 days' notice of this.

• The landlord intends to sell the place. The landlord must give you 60 days' notice of this.

A landlord may not give you a notice to comply or vacate if you could not pay the rent this month.

A landlord may not make you enter a payment plan if you lose your job and cannot pay the rent, and then try to give you a 10-day notice when you cannot follow the payment plan.

 

Can the sheriff still put me out?

Law enforcement (the sheriff) may not enforce (carry out) eviction orders unless the court order says that it is because you caused a significant and immediate health or safety problem. Your local court may have added other requirements. Contact them directly to ask.

 

I own the mobile home I live in. I rent the lot. Does the eviction moratorium apply to me?

Yes!

 

My living arrangement is different.

The moratorium covers anyone who pays rent to live in any type of place. Here are some examples. You have to have lived in this place for more than 14 days for the moratorium to apply. This is not a complete list:

• You live in a motor home or RV you own. You rent the lot the motor home sits on.

• You live in transitional housing.  

• You live in a camping area.

• You live in an Airbnb.

• You live in a hotel or motel. You occupy the hotel or motel room as your residence, not as a place to stay for a few nights during travel.  

• You are renting a room from a roommate.

• You live at a commercial property as a caregiver or security. You pay rent to live there.

 

I live in public housing or other type of government housing.

This moratorium still applies to you, but you have even more protection. Read Coronavirus: On March 27, 2020, Congress stopped evictions for not paying rent in many federally funded housing programs.

 

I could not live in or move into the place due to COVID-19. For example, my college closed, or I was laid off from my seasonal job.

A landlord may not charge you rent for a place you could not live in due to COVID-19.

 

I rent a storefront or other commercial space.

If COVID-19 has greatly affected you or your business, a landlord may not raise your rent, or threaten to, unless the rental increases were agreed to prior to February 29.

 

My landlord is trying to evict me anyway.

Get legal help right away. Call

• Housing Justice Project at (253) 234-4204 in King County

• CLEAR Hotline at 1-888-201-1014 in all other counties, weekdays between 9:15 am and 12:15 pm or Apply Online.

• Your local volunteer lawyer program: check the list at to find one in your county

Contact the state Attorney General's office and let them know your landlord is trying to evict you.

We also have sample letters that you can use, depending on your situation.

*You are still responsible to pay your rent. Washington's "eviction moratorium" just pauses the court process. If you can pay the rent or part of it, do not skip this responsibility!