Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate

Eviction notice forms must comply with all laws–federal, state, and local. Laws frequently change. Use of an older notice may not hold up in court. Use of the state-law form may not be valid where local laws require additional language and/or additional documents with a pay or vacate notice. Seek legal advice if unsure how to proceed.

A Washington landlord who wishes to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent must serve a notice to pay rent or vacate. Serving the pay or vacate notice is legally required if nonpayment is the only legal basis for eviction, even if the landlord just wants the tenant out and is not interested in pursuing the money owed.

Many Washington city and county laws require additional language and/or additional documents to be served with the pay rent or vacate notice. These jurisdictions include Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kenmore, unincorporated King County, Kirkland, Seattle, Tacoma, and other jurisdictions. Federal law may require at least 30 days’ notice for certain properties including properties with FHA loans, Fannie Mae loans, Freddie Mac loans, and Section 8 tenants.

  • Service of the notice must be in strict compliance with statutory time and manner requirements.
  • For residential tenancies, utilities payable to the landlord may be included as rent. Do not include other non-rent items such as late fees or notice fees.
  • If an installment plan for non-recurring charges (deposits, last month’s rent) was entered into at the commencement of the tenancy, missed installment payments may be included in the notice.
  • More time or additional service methods may be required by the lease.
  • Local laws may also impose additional requirements, including additional mandatory language on the notice and/or service of additional documents with the notice. The local forms below are only a partial list. Consult with an attorney if unsure.

206-801-1188

Washington General Pay Rent or Vacate Notice

Washington Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate

Use this form in areas where local law does not require additional language. Some local pay or vacate notice forms are posted on this page. The list is not meant to be exhaustive. Consult with an attorney if unsure.

Seattle Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate

Depending on when the rent accrued, Seattle law may require language in the notice to pay rent or vacate in addition to the language in the notice posted on this website.

Seattle also has many additional requirements and tenant defenses. Many of these defenses have not yet been interpreted by the courts.

Landlords are encouraged to seek the advice and counsel of an attorney for Seattle residential evictions.

Federal Way Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate

Federal Way Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate  

Federal Way requires specific additional language. Use this Federal Way form rather than the general state form.

Unincorporated King County Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate

King County requires residential landlords to use their mandatory forms for rental properties in unincorporated King County. For rental properties in unincorporated King County, see the King County website at

 

https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/local-services/governance-leadership/local-government-for-unincorporated-king-county/eviction-notices.aspx