A bill the Washington legislature is considering would require all residential landlords to offer a payment plan before engaging in any collection efforts for rent that was due during the pandemic state of emergency.[1] “Collection efforts” would be statutorily defined to include eviction or any court action, use of collection agencies, any threats to collect, and even withholding from a security deposit. The payment plan would have to be reasonable solely from the tenant’s—but with no consideration of the landlord’s— “financial, health, or other circumstances.” A landlord’s failure to offer a payment plan would be defense to eviction. For two […]
new eviction laws
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At both the state and local level new laws mandate changes in the language of important landlord-tenant documents, including the 14-day notice to pay rent or vacate as well as legal pleadings used in court. Failure to include legally required language in eviction documents is a defense to eviction and could lead to dismissal of an eviction action. Truly v. Heuft, 138 Wn.App. 913, 158 P.3d 1276 (Div. 1 2007). New laws in 2019 and in 2020 change the requirements for the notice to pay rent or vacate state-wide. New laws in Federal Way and Seattle necessitate contents in notices […]
The Washington state legislature has passed sweeping changes to residential landlord-tenant laws. These new laws go into effect July 28, 2019. Rent increases. Effective July 28 of this year, rent increases will require 60 days notice for most tenants (currently 30 days). Different rules apply for Section 8 tenants. Other rule changes will still require 30 days notice. Landlords must apply all payments towards rent first, before applying payments to non-recurring charges such as late fees, deposits, and other charges. 14-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate Form. A pay rent or vacate notice will require a 14-day cure period, […]