Tenant Rights Washington State

Summary

In Washington, landlords must provide at least 20 days written notice before eviction. If a lease doesnt mention termination, it defaults to state law. The notice must include the reason for eviction, the date by which the tenant must vacate, and the landlords signature. If a landlord doesnt provide proper written notice, the tenant can stay in the property, seek legal help, or contact the Washington State Attorney Generals Office. If a property is sold, the new owner must honor existing leases. If the lease is month-to-month, the new owner can change terms with proper notice. The new owner should provide information for rent payment. If not, the tenant can continue to pay the old landlord until notified. Tenants should keep receipts of payments, maintain bank statements showing transactions, and use check payments for a paper trail.

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My landlord left me a voicemail saying I have a month to leave the property I am renting because he sold the place and this comes after I had agreed upon a selling price when they were wanting to sell and at the time we agreed upon that price which was only a few days prior I was told I that i would have 2 years before they did anything and if they did it was them moving onto the property but I would still have a place when they did
Do you have a written agreement or any proof of the terms you agreed upon with your landlord?
I have a written rental agreement
What does your written rental agreement state about the termination of the lease? In Washington, landlords must provide at least 20 days' notice before eviction.
It doesn't state anything about termination of it
In Washington:

- Landlords must provide at least 20 days' notice before eviction.
- If the lease doesn't mention termination, it defaults to state law.

For more help, contact Washington LawHelp at *-*-*-*.
What type of the notice must they give in Washington
In Washington, the notice must be written and should include:

- The reason for eviction
- The date by which the tenant must vacate
- The landlord's signature
And what if the landlord doesn't give proper written notice what can the tenant do
In Washington, if a landlord doesn't provide proper written notice, the tenant can:

- Stay in the property
- Seek legal help
- Contact the Washington State Attorney General's Office at *-*-*-*.
Who can a tenant contact
In Washington, a tenant can contact:

- Washington LawHelp: *-*-*-*
- Washington State Attorney General's Office: *-*-*-*
- Local legal aid services for low-income individuals.
If a tenant stays but the property has new owners what happens
In Washington:

- If a property is sold, the new owner must honor existing leases.
- If the lease is month-to-month, the new owner can change terms with proper notice.

For more help, contact Washington LawHelp at *-*-*-*.
If the tenant doesn't know any information for the new owner how does the tenant pay rent who do they pay it to
In Washington:

- The new owner should provide information for rent payment.
- If not, the tenant can continue to pay the old landlord until notified.

For more help, contact Washington LawHelp at *-*-*-*.
If the tenant pays the old landlord and they accept the payments how can a tenant prove that they've been paying rent still
In Washington:

- Keep receipts of payments
- Maintain bank statements showing transactions
- Use check payments for a paper trail

For more help, contact Washington LawHelp at *-*-*-*.
Can I contact lawhelp online
Yes, you can contact Washington LawHelp online. Their website is www.washingtonlawhelp.org. They provide free legal information and resources.
Can the old owner evict the tenant or does the new owner have to once the property is sold
Who served you the eviction notice, the old owner or the new one?

In Washington, either the old or new owner can serve an eviction notice, but it must be in writing and provide adequate notice.
No one
If no one served you an eviction notice, you may not be legally required to leave. In Washington, proper written notice is mandatory for eviction.
Does the written notice have to go through the courts
No, the written eviction notice doesn't have to go through the courts. It can be delivered directly to the tenant by the landlord. However, if the tenant refuses to leave, the landlord may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit in court.
What if the landlord says they delivered a written notice but never did
If the landlord claims to have delivered a notice but didn't, you can challenge this in court. Do you have any proof of not receiving the notice?
No
If you don't have proof, it might be difficult to challenge. However, you can still consult with a lawyer to explore your options. King County Courthouse, Seattle: (*) *-*.
Can I contact them online
Yes, you can contact King County Courthouse online. Here is their website: www.kingcounty.gov/courts/clerk.aspx.
I'm in Mason county Washington who do I contact then
You can contact the Mason County District Court. Here are their details:

- Address: * N 4th St, Shelton, WA *
- Phone: (*) *-* ext. *
- Website: www.co.mason.wa.us/district-court/index.php