Travis Eller

40 posts

Travis Eller Presents on Landlord-Tenant Law at Seminar

Attorney Travis Scott Eller presented a lecture at the National Business Institute’s “Washington Landlord-Tenant Law 2024” seminar on October 22, 2024. Mr. Eller’s topic was “Terminating Tenancy.” The seminar is now available on demand. Attorneys can use promo code FPDN50A at checkout to get $50 off. See at https://nbi-sems.com/products/99100. Mr. Eller has presented on landlord-tenant law for other organizations for containing legal education credit and for real estate clock hour credit for decades. He has participated in online seminars hosted by the King County Law Library featuring landlord attorneys, tenant attorneys, and judicial officers. Travis Eller is slated to chair […]

The Court of Appeals Hears Important Landlord-Tenant Cases

Settled law breeds few appeals for the simple reason that if the law is settled there are fewer issues to appeal. When new laws are passed, they can be interpreted in different ways, leading to more appealable issues. Landlord-tenant law was once well settled but is now with a plethora of new laws it is the opposite extreme. In the past, there were only a handful of landlord-tenant appellate cases each year. Now there are sometimes a handful of appellate developments in a single day. This week there were two important appellate decisions and oral arguments on another case with […]

Does Federal Law Always Require 30 Days’ Notice?

The CARES Act requires thirty days’ notice for nonpayment eviction for rental properties covered by this law. Covered properties include Section 8 tenants, properties with federally-backed mortgages (FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, etc.), and may apply in other situations. Whether the CARES Act applies to cases other than nonpayment, such as nuisance evictions, has been the subject of two Court of Appeals rulings in recent months. Division Two of the Washington Court of Appeals ruled that the CARES Act applies to covered properties for all eviction cases, regardless of grounds. Meanwhile, Division One ruled just the opposite and held that […]

Travis Scott Eller Presents at Rental Housing Association Seminar

Attorney Travis Scott Eller frequently presents at continuing legal education and industry group seminars. He presented at the Rental Housing Association 2024 Spring Workshop and Tradeshow on March 23 on the subject “Today’s Eviction Process.” Topics included drafting and serving predicate notices, the CARES Act, recent case law, good cause to evict under state and local laws, and various other topics related to landlord-tenant law and evictions. Travis Eller completed a three-day National Institute for Trial Advocacy workshop on advanced public speaking for attorneys and is active in an advanced Toastmasters club. In addition to handling a volume of residential […]

Shoreline Passes New Tenant Protections

The City of Shoreline passed a new law this week creating new local tenant protections, including an increased notice of rent increase timeframe; limits on move-in fees, late fees, and security deposit amounts; a requirement to allow payment plans for move-in costs; and a prohibition on the requirement of providing a social security number. For rent increases of three percent but less than ten percent the landlord must give 120 days’ notice. For rent increases of ten percent or more, the landlord must give 180 days’ notice. All move-in fees and security deposit may not exceed one month’s rent. The […]

Tacoma Measure One

Measure One (also known as the “Tacoma Landlord Fairness Code Initiative”)  passed in the recent election and is expected to be enacted into law soon. Below is a short outline of some of the key provisions. We will post a more detailed analysis later. For advice about your circumstances, it is always best to consult with an attorney. Rent increases.  Landlords must be in compliance with all federal, state, and local tenant protection laws before raising rent. The landlord must use a rent increase form established by the City of Tacoma. Rent increases require two notices, one between 180 and […]

Attorney Travis Eller to Lecture at Legal Education Seminars

Attorney Travis Scott Eller will lecture on landlord-tenant law at two continuing legal education seminars this fall. Mr. Eller will present on the topic “Terminations and Evictions: When the Love is Gone” at the National Business Institute’s “Washington Landlord-Tenant Law From Start to Finish: Practical Insights From Lease Agreement to Post-Tenancy Issues” on October 18, 2023. On November 17 Mr. Eller will present “2023 Federal & State Updates” which will focus on the CARES Act, just cause eviction, and terminating tenancies under state law for the Seminar Group’s “Residential Evictions” seminar. Travis Eller has been practicing landlord-tenant law for over […]

What if the Seller Won’t Move Out?

Most home sales go smoothly enough. Some do not. What if the seller refuses to move out? A new law protects buyers of residential properties when a seller refuses to move out after closing. Previously the buyer would have to go through a slower process called an ejectment action. Now the buyer can get the seller out through the expedited unlawful detainer process, which is what most people mean when they think of an eviction case. Certain conditions must be met before the buyer may bring the unlawful detainer action, rather than the slower ejectment process. The conditions are: 1) […]