Seattle Landlord-Tenant Attorney

Discussion of Washington state law, legal issues and procedure in eviction cases. Site offers links to free eviction notice and other forms.

Author: Scott Eller is a Seattle lawyer who represents landlords in King, Pierce, and Snhohomish counties.

Blawg Related Categories: Real Estate & Property Law • States • Washington

Recent Posts from Seattle Landlord-Tenant Attorney

Landlord-Tenant Law and the Right to Bear Arms
The US Supreme Court recently rendered an important decision on the right to bear arms under the US constitution. The decision applies to government action, not private relationships such as landlord and tenant. The Michigan…
Cutting Your Losses - A Landlord’s Duty to Mitigate
A landlord has a duty to mitigate damages when a tenant abandons the tenancy or is evicted. Crown Plaza v. Synapse Software, 87 Wn. App. 495 (1997); Exeter Co. v. Samuel Martin, Ltd., 5 Wn.2d…
Giving Booting Vehicles the Boot
A landlord may not “boot” cars to enforce parking rules because in Washington no private property owner may resort to booting cars. The statute is pasted below. A lease provision allowing the landlord to enforce…
Minimize Risk from Tenants’ Unpaid Utilities
Lien rights. Public utilities in Washington have lien rights against property for unpaid utilities. RCW 35.21.290 (water, electric), 35.67.200 (sewer), 36.36.045 (fees imposed for the withdrawal of subterranean water or on-site sewage disposal), 36.94.150 (connection…
Evicting John Doe and Jane Doe
Many landlords resists naming known unauthorized occupants on eviction notices. The better practice - even if your notice forms has, as it should, an ‘and all persons in possession’ catch all - is to include…
King County Safer Neighborhood Ordinance
King County has passed a “Safer Neighborhoods” Ordinance that requires landlords in unincorporated King County to take measures to prevent recurrence of criminal activity on rental property. If the sheriff’s department has probable cause to…
Trap for the Unwary - Section 180 of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act
In general under Washington law a tenant that creates a nuisance or commits waste may is subject to eviction for failure to comply with a three day notice to vacate. There is noo opportunity to…
The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and Property Managers
The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies to any person who regularly collects or attempts to collect debts for another. This includes property management firms, but does not include landlords acting pro se.…
Having Your Cake and Eating, too - May a Landlord Accept Rent Under Section 375?
A new law went into effect in June that amended a section of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act that allows the tenant to pay rent into the registry of the court to avoid eviction. This has…
Do Not Pass “GO” - Wrongful Eviction in Washington
In Washington a residential landlord may serve with the summons and complaint a notice requiring the tenant to pay rent within seven days or serve a response indicating no rent is owed. If the writ…