. (3)(a) Following the entry of a judgment in favor of the landlord and against the tenant for the restitution of the premises and forfeiture of the tenancy due to nonpayment of rent, the court, at the time of the show cause hearing or trial, or upon subsequent motion of the tenant but before the execution of the writ of restitution, may stay the writ of restitution upon good cause and on such terms that the court deems fair and just for both parties. Keep the apartment clean and sanitary. (4) This section does not limit a prospective tenant's rights or the duties of a screening service as otherwise provided in chapter, If any moneys are paid to the landlord by the tenant as a deposit or as security for performance of the tenant's obligations in a lease or rental agreement, the lease or rental agreement shall be in writing and shall include the terms and conditions under which the deposit or portion thereof may be withheld by the landlord upon termination of the lease or rental agreement. The Attorney Generals Office collected information for tenants about legal and advocacy resources, including immigrant and cultural organizations where tenants can receive assistance in their primary language. The landlord shall have no power or authority to prohibit entry for the inspection. (3) A landlord shall provide, upon the request of a tenant, a written receipt for any payments made by the tenant in a form other than cash. (d) The exercise of rights to change or add locks under this subsection does not discharge the tenant from the payment of rent until the rental agreement is terminated and the tenant vacates the unit. . The landlord shall accept any pledge of emergency rental assistance funds provided to the tenant from a governmental or nonprofit entity before the expiration of any pay or vacate notice for nonpayment of rent for the full amount of the rent owing under the rental agreement. The prevailing party may also recover court costs and a reasonable attorneys' fee. Information relating to claims will only be shared with the claimant and the survivor. The court shall also consider whether the expenses are due or have already been paid, whether the landlord has other financial resources, or whether the landlord or tenant will suffer irreparable damage. (7)(a) Persons who move from a dwelling unit prior to the application by the owner of the dwelling unit for any governmental permit necessary for the demolition, substantial rehabilitation, or change of use of residential property or prior to any notification or filing required for condominium conversion shall not be entitled to the assistance authorized by this section. (16) "Landlord" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of the dwelling unit or the property of which it is a part, and in addition means any person designated as representative of the owner, lessor, or sublessor including, but not limited to, an agent, a resident manager, or a designated property manager. (5) A tenant's remedies under this section do not preempt any other legal remedy available to the tenant. (38) "Transitional housing" means housing units owned, operated, or managed by a nonprofit organization or governmental entity in which supportive services are provided to individuals and families that were formerly homeless, with the intent to stabilize them and move them to permanent housing within a period of not more than twenty-four months, or longer if the program is limited to tenants within a specified age range or the program is intended for tenants in need of time to complete and transition from educational or training or service programs. If the landlord fails to complete payment of relocation assistance within the period required under this subsection, the city, town, county, or municipal corporation may advance the cost of the relocation assistance payments to the displaced tenants. Upon written notice of intent to seek a search warrant, when a landlord denies a fire official the right to search the common areas of the rental building other than the dwelling unit, a fire official may immediately seek a search warrant and, upon a showing of probable cause specific to the common area sought to be searched that a criminal fire code violation exists in those areas, a court of competent jurisdiction shall issue a warrant allowing a search of the common areas in which the violation is alleged. If the answer is oral the substance thereof shall be endorsed on the complaint by the court. (f) The service member has leased the property, but prior to taking possession of the rental premises, receives change of station orders to an area that is 35 miles or more from the location of the rental premises. Protected Class Harassment & Retaliation Policy . If any additional inspections of the rental property are conducted, a copy of the findings of these inspections may also be required by the local municipality. If a tenant fails to accept the terms of a reasonable repayment plan within 14 days of the landlord's offer, the landlord may proceed with an unlawful detainer action as set forth in RCW. . (3) Not more than ten days in all other cases. . If the written rental agreement fails to specify that the fee is nonrefundable, the fee must be treated as a refundable deposit under RCW. day of . Keep in mind that this is just in case of domestic violence or harassment; if the landlord changes the property locks unilaterally, they may face legal consequences. Refusing to Accept Rent Payments as a Means of Intimidation. The landlord must store the property if the tenant serves a written request to do so on the landlord or the landlord's representative by any of the methods described in RCW. If the tenant has vacated the premises or if the landlord has failed to commence an action with the court for release of the funds within sixty days after rent is deposited in escrow, the tenant may file an action to determine how and when any rent deposited in escrow shall be released or disbursed. (ii) If a prospective landlord conducts his or her own screening of tenants, the prospective landlord may charge his or her actual costs in obtaining the background information only if the prospective landlord provides the information as required in (a) of this subsection. Harassment is the use of aggressive methods by the landlord in an attempt to pressure or intimidate a tenant. (iii) File an action with the court and apply to the court for release of the rent on the grounds that there was no violation of any obligation imposed upon the landlord or that the condition has been remedied. (4) Either the local county prosecutor's office or the consumer protection division of the attorney general's office or the attorney for the tenant has approved in writing the application for exemption as complying with subsections (1) through (3) of this section. Anyone who is found guilty of harassment can be charged with a gross misdemeanor. Can a Tenant Change the Locks in Washington? 14- 12 . (9) "Unlawful harassment" has the same meaning as in RCW. (2) A landlord shall send a second written notice before selling or disposing of a deceased tenant's property. (32) A "single-family residence" is a structure maintained and used as a single dwelling unit. (iii) A statement that the landlord may sell or dispose of the property on or after the date through which rent is paid or at least forty-five days after the second notice is mailed, whichever comes later, if a tenant representative does not claim and remove the property in accordance with this subsection. Additionally, there are some cities in the state that protect their tenants in case the landlord decides to evict them without cause. . (4) The escrow shall place all rent deposited in a separate rent escrow account in the name of the escrow in a bank or savings and loan association domiciled in this state. These resources can be foundhere. . (e) Displaced tenants shall be entitled to recover any relocation assistance, prepaid deposits, and prepaid rent required by (b) of this subsection. If the occupant fails to apply within 30 days of receipt of the notice in this subsection, or the application is denied for failure to meet the criteria, the landlord may commence an unlawful detainer action under this chapter. If the habitability issue is an emergency and includes heat, water or electricity landlords have 24 hours to fix the issue. The notice must also specify the telephone number to which the tenant may communicate any objection or request to reschedule the entry. Read about the latest changes to eviction laws. Im Jahr 2019 verabschiedete der Washington State Gesetzgeber und Gouverneur Inslee unterzeichnete ein Gesetz, das von den Vermietern verlangt, dass sie mindestens 14 Tage vor Beginn eines Rumungsverfahrens eine Abmahnung aussprechen, und schuf ein neues Abmahnungsformular, das die Vermieter an die Mieter senden mssen, wenn sie die Miete, die Versorgungsleistungen oder eine andere regelmig wiederkehrende Gebhr, die im Mietvertrag vereinbart ist, nicht zahlen. A tenant in Washington can also terminate the lease before it ends for any of the following reasons: On the other hand, at-will tenants with a month-to-month lease have to provide 20 days of notice regardless of the circumstances. The definitions in this section apply to RCW, (1) "Dwelling unit" has the same meaning as defined in RCW. GET HELP: If you do not respond by the deadline above, you will lose your right to defend yourself or be represented by a lawyer if you cannot afford one in court and could be evicted. In processing any application from a remaining occupant under this subsection, the landlord may require the occupant to meet the same screening, background, and financial criteria as would any other prospective tenant to continue the tenancy. . . (3) A landlord may not impose any fee, charge any interest, or otherwise impose a cost on a tenant because a tenant elects to pay in installments. (3)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision under this section, if a tenant or a household member is a victim of sexual assault, stalking, or unlawful harassment by a landlord, the tenant may terminate the rental agreement and quit the premises without further obligation under the rental agreement or under this chapter prior to making a copy of a valid order for protection or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party available to the landlord, provided that: (i) The tenant must deliver a copy of a valid order for protection or written record of a report signed by a qualified third party to the landlord by mail, fax, or personal delivery by a third party within seven days of quitting the tenant's dwelling unit; and, (ii) A written record of a report signed by the qualified third party must be substantially in the form specified under subsection (1)(b) of this section. This act shall take effect on August 1, 1989, and shall apply to landlord-tenant relationships existing on or entered into after the effective date of this act. . . Here is an overview of the general conditions that the tenant must comply with, according to the Washington state landlord-tenant law: The Washington landlord-tenant act can be found in the Revised Code of Washington (Chapter 59.18). The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any lease of a single-family dwelling for a period of a year or more or to any lease of a single-family dwelling containing a bona fide option to purchase by the tenant: PROVIDED, That an attorney for the tenant must approve on the face of the agreement any lease exempted from the provisions of this chapter as provided for in this section. I state under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct. (c) In any order issued pursuant to this subsection (3): (i) The court shall not stay the writ of restitution more than ninety days from the date of order, but may order repayment of the judgment balance within such time. After the issuance of a writ of restitution, acceptance of a payment by the landlord that only partially satisfies the judgment will not invalidate the writ unless pursuant to a written agreement executed by both parties. With serious penalties like that on the line and keeping in mind that so many harassment accusations are actually false you cannot afford to sit back and hope this will all go away. (iii) A landlord shall not be required to pay relocation assistance to any displaced tenant in a case in which a condemnation affects one or more dwelling units and the tenant's displacement is a direct result of the acquisition of the property by eminent domain. Also, Washington allows individual counties to raise or lower the aforementioned filing limits. (c) If a prospective landlord takes an adverse action, the prospective landlord shall provide a written notice of the adverse action to the prospective tenant that states the reasons for the adverse action. .. PAYMENT MAY BE MADE TO THE COURT OR TO THE LANDLORD. Any summons or process served out-of-state must contain the same information and be served in the same manner as personal service of summons or process served within the state, except the summons or process must require the party to appear and answer within sixty days after such personal service out of the state. YOU SHOULD RETAIN PROOF OF SERVICE. For information regarding the Eviction Resolution Program in your county. Domestic Violence & Harassment Definitions Domestic Violence & Harassment Resources Domestic Violence Protections for Renters Protections in Federally Subsidized Housing Threats from Neighbors or the Landlord Domestic Violence & Harassment FAQ Retaliation Retaliation Protections Retaliation FAQ Resources Renters Resources COVID-19 Resources (5) Any notices sent by the landlord under this section must include a mailing address, any address used for the receipt of electronic communications, and a telephone number of the landlord. Part 1: The Basics Part 2: If the Abuser is Someone You Live With Part 3: If the Abuser is Your Landlord Part 4: If Your Landlord Threatens to Evict You Get Legal Help Download Packet with Sample Forms and Letters Related Resources Please Note: Read this only if you live in Washington State. (e) Shall not be considered by a court, arbitrator, mediator, or any other dispute resolution adjudicator to be a security deposit or governed by state or local codes governing security deposits. . (6) The provision of verification of a report under subsection (1)(b) of this section does not waive the confidential or privileged nature of the communication between a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking with a qualified third party pursuant to RCW. There's an exception in the city of Seattle, where the security deposit amount may not be higher than one month s rent. . (e) The tenant shall not be entitled to deposit rent in escrow pursuant to this section unless the tenant first makes a good faith determination that he or she is unable to repair the conditions described in the certification issued pursuant to subsection (2)(d) of this section through use of the repair remedies authorized by RCW, (f) If the local government or its designee certifies that the condition or conditions specified by the tenant exist, the tenant shall then either pay the periodic rent due to the landlord or deposit all periodic rent then called for in the rental agreement and all rent thereafter called for in the rental agreement into an escrow account maintained by a person authorized by law to set up and maintain escrow accounts, including escrow companies under chapter. . (22) "Premises" means a dwelling unit, appurtenances thereto, grounds, and facilities held out for the use of tenants generally and any other area or facility which is held out for use by the tenant. 59.18.280. If rent is more than five days past due, the landlord may charge late fees commencing from the first day after the due date until paid. . If a tenant exercises his or her rights to change or add locks, the following rules apply: (a) Within seven days of changing or adding locks, the tenant must deliver to the landlord by mail, fax, or personal delivery by a third party: (i) Written notice that the tenant has changed or added locks; and (ii) a copy of a valid order for protection or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party. However, certain types of evictions (including lockouts and retaliatory evictions connected to the filing of a health or safety complaint) are illegal in Washington. (6) The landlord shall not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant, and shall provide notice before entry as provided in this subsection. If the landlord collects a deposit without providing a written checklist at the commencement of the tenancy, the landlord is liable to the tenant for the amount of the deposit, and the prevailing party may recover court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a landlord from serving a notice to pay or vacate at any time after the rent becomes due. . . (g) Agrees to make rent payments through electronic means only. However, the court must order the landlord to pay costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the person petitioning for termination of the tenancy if the court finds that the landlord failed to comply with the duty to investigate, regardless of which party prevails. (2) For rent that accrued between March 1, 2020, and the six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium expiration date: (a) A landlord may not report to a prospective landlord: (i) A tenant's nonpayment of rent that accrued between March 1, 2020, and the six months following the expiration of the eviction moratorium; or, (ii) An unlawful detainer action pursuant to RCW. The summons must contain a street address for service of the notice of appearance or answer and, if available, a facsimile number for the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney, if represented. They must also avoid causing undue property damage. If completion is delayed due to circumstances beyond the landlord's control, including the unavailability of financing, the landlord shall remedy the defective condition as soon as possible. (2) The party initiating arbitration under subsection (1) of this section shall give reasonable notice to the other party or parties. . 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