How to Evict a Tenant in Washington

In Washington, landlord tenant law is codified under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act. Under the code, a landlord can evict a tenant for nonpayment of rent or participation in criminal activity. A landlord is required to provide notice to a non-complying tenant to request compliance.

59.18.130 - Duties of tenant.

Each tenant shall pay the rental amount at such times and in such amounts as provided for in the rental agreement or as otherwise provided by law and comply with all obligations imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of all municipal, county, and state codes, statutes, ordinances, and regulations, and in addition shall:

(1) Keep that part of the premises which he or she occupies and uses as clean and sanitary as the conditions of the premises permit;

(2) Properly dispose from his or her dwelling unit all rubbish, garbage, and other organic or flammable waste, in a clean and sanitary manner at reasonable and regular intervals, and assume all costs of extermination and fumigation for infestation caused by the tenant;

(3) Properly use and operate all electrical, gas, heating, plumbing and other fixtures and appliances supplied by the landlord;

(4) Not intentionally or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair, or remove any part of the structure or dwelling, with the appurtenances thereto, including the facilities, equipment, furniture, furnishings, and appliances, or permit any member of his or her family, invitee, licensee, or any person acting under his or her control to do so.

(5) Not permit a nuisance or common waste;

(6) Not engage in drug-related activity at the rental premises, or allow a sub-tenant, sub-lessee, resident, or anyone else to engage in drug-related activity at the rental premises with the knowledge or consent of the tenant.

59.18.170 - Landlord to give notice if tenant fails to carry out duties.

If at any time during the tenancy the tenant fails to carry out the duties required by RCW 59.18.130 or 59.18.140, the landlord may, in addition to pursuit of remedies otherwise provided by law, give written notice to the tenant of said failure, which notice shall specify the nature of the failure.

59.18.180 - Tenant's failure to comply with statutory duties — Landlord to give tenant written notice of noncompliance — Landlord's remedies.

If the tenant fails to comply with any portion of RCW 59.18.130 or 59.18.140, the tenant shall comply within thirty days after written notice by the landlord specifying the noncompliance. If the tenant fails to remedy the noncompliance within that period the landlord may enter the dwelling unit and cause the work to be done. Any substantial noncompliance by the tenant of RCWRCW 59.18.130 or 59.18.140 shall constitute a ground for commencing an action in unlawful detainer.

A landlord may not be held liable in any cause of action for bringing an unlawful detainer action against a tenant for drug-related activity, for creating an imminent hazard to the physical safety of others, or for engaging in gang-related activity that renders people in at least two or more dwelling units or residences insecure in life or the use of property or that injures or endangers the safety or health of people in at least two or more dwelling units or residences under this section, if the unlawful detainer action was brought in good faith.

Talk with an Attorney

If you are a landlord in Washington, you can evict (unlawful detainer) a non-complying tenant or a tenant who engages in illegal activity. The law requires the landlord to notify the tenant of the statutory failure and allow the tenant 30 days to remedy the non-compliance before any unlawful detainer action.Talk with an experienced attorney to discuss your case.