Evictions in General
Washington Revised Statutes ยง 59-12-010 et seq. governs the eviction process in Washington. In Washington, an eviction lawsuit is an action in “forcible entry and detainer.” Forcible entry means exactly what it sounds like, that someone has unlawfully forced their way onto property. Forcible detention means that someone has entered or occupied a property, but does not have a right to possess the property and is holding or detaining the property from the rightful possessor. It is important to notice that the Washington legislature specifically wrote the law so that a property owner does not always have a right to enter or possess their own property.
The term “forcible entry and detainer” is a more accurate way to describe the legal rights and obligations of both tenants and landlords than the term “eviction.” The word “eviction” connotes that the tenant is being kicked out of a property, usually for failure to pay rent or for breaching terms in the lease. However, for a landlord to lawfully evict a tenant, he or she must follow a very strict set of steps laid out by the legislature to ensure that the tenant’s rights are being protected.
Common reasons for termination of tenancy include:
- Substantial lease violation
- Repeated minor violations of the lease
- Nonpayment of rent
- Nuisance, Waste, Criminal Activity
Rental Recovery PS knows the ins and outs of Washington’s “forcible entry and detainer” laws providing Legal Advice when you need it. No nickel and diming with available flat fee pricing options every step of the way. Property Owners and Managers receive rock solid results to get your matter done right.