Residential Evictions

Recent changes in landlord-tenant law on the federal, state, and local levels have made the residential eviction process much more complex, nuanced, and hyper-technical.

Initial eviction notices. Landlords must comply with all applicable laws, beginning with the initial eviction notice (notice to pay rent or vacate, etc.). Failure to adhere to all legal requirements may be fatal to an eviction case. Even the failure to use bold font for a few words where required by statute may lead a court to dismiss an eviction. We recommend landlord retain an attorney at the very beginning of the process including drafting and serving the eviction notice.

No-cost tenant attorneys.  Washington residential tenants have a legal right to an attorney at no cost. The tenant attorneys are quite knowledgeable in landlord-tenant law and often very effective in defending eviction cases, especially against unrepresented landlords or attorneys less experienced in landlord-tenant law. It is more important than ever to have an experienced landlord-tenant attorney in your corner from square one.

Commercial Evictions

We regularly handle commercial landlord-tenant disputes.

We represent both commercial tenants and landlords throughout the Puget Sound area.

 

Post-Foreclosure Evictions

The successful bidder at a foreclosure auction is entitled to possession against former owners and non-tenant occupants twenty days after the sale. If the foreclosed former owner and/or other occupants refuse to vacate, the buyer must evict the occupants (even if there are no tenants in the property).

 

Evictions Appeals

There are more eviction cases in the Court of Appeals than ever before.

We have successfully handled eviction cases on appeal and welcome inquiries about consultation, referral, or association with trial-court counsel.

206-801-1188

Where (city/county) is the rental property located?

FAQs about our law firm

No, not exactly.

A statutory repayment plan is required as the first step in a residential nonpayment eviction if any of the past-due rent accrued through April 2023 (regardless of whether the notice was served after April 2023).

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Yes, the language matters and the court may dismiss your eviction case on procedural grounds–no matter how deserving on the merits–if the language is wrong.

Some documents, such as the 14-day notice, must be in the exact verbiage required by statute. In some local jurisdictions additional specific language must be in the notice and/or additional documents must be served with it.

There are some multi-state websites that show up in Google results with form generators that create notice forms that will not hold up in Washington courts. We do not post forms for every situation or jurisdiction because the new laws vary and are not simple to implement. Consult with an attorney before serving documents.

Proper service of an eviction notice (pay rent or vacate, or etc.) requires someone to go to the rental property and knock on the door. While there are detailed instructions on serving eviction notices on this website, it is far wiser to have an attorney advise and assist with every step in the process.

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It makes no difference whether the agreement was reduced to writing, or was only an oral agreement. If someone is paying you (or is supposed to pay you) to live in your property, you are a landlord and they are a tenant. All the eviction and landlord-tenant laws apply.

Ironically, it some situations it may be faster to evict a tenant than someone who lives in your property without an obligation to pay.

  • Misty says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a preview; your comment will be visible after it has been approved.
    I am in desperate need of an attorney
  • Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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    Landlord-Tenant Law FAQs

    No, not exactly.

    A statutory repayment plan is required as the first step in a residential nonpayment eviction if any of the past-due rent accrued through April 2023 (regardless of whether the notice was served after April 2023).

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Yes, the language matters and the court may dismiss your eviction case on procedural grounds–no matter how deserving on the merits–if the language is wrong.

    Some documents, such as the 14-day notice, must be in the exact verbiage required by statute. In some local jurisdictions additional specific language must be in the notice and/or additional documents must be served with it.

    There are some multi-state websites that show up in Google results with form generators that create notice forms that will not hold up in Washington courts. We do not post forms for every situation or jurisdiction because the new laws vary and are not simple to implement. Consult with an attorney before serving documents.

    Proper service of an eviction notice (pay rent or vacate, or etc.) requires someone to go to the rental property and knock on the door. While there are detailed instructions on serving eviction notices on this website, it is far wiser to have an attorney advise and assist with every step in the process.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    It makes no difference whether the agreement was reduced to writing, or was only an oral agreement. If someone is paying you (or is supposed to pay you) to live in your property, you are a landlord and they are a tenant. All the eviction and landlord-tenant laws apply.

    Ironically, it some situations it may be faster to evict a tenant than someone who lives in your property without an obligation to pay.

  • Misty says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a preview; your comment will be visible after it has been approved.
    I am in desperate need of an attorney
  • Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.