Recently updated on April 9th, 2024 at 12:53 am
How to evict your tenant in WA state
This page provides the starting point for landlords (homeowners or their agents) seeking to evict their tenants.
This website allows you to prepare your complete set eviction notices and if needed subsequent court documents through all stages to legally evict your tenant. You can also connect with lawyers, dispute resolution centers, and nonprofits and share your case documents. You will be led through a series of questionnaires in plain non-legal language, with helpful explanations from lawyers and court officials.
Select your situation to view the process
Select the option below that best captures your current situation, then click the button to view the proces
Case Overview
Purpose
As a landlord, you want to vacate your property for any number of reasons such as the renter not paying.
Who can apply
Landlords (Property owners who are renting property). Tenants (renters who are renting a property)
How long
3-6 month
Cost
Court fees about $300, LegalAtoms fees about $20-$50.
How it works
1. Take Screening
Take LegalAtoms.com screening to answer a few basic questions about causes for eviction and how the current laws including COVID led changes in eviction laws affect your situation
2. Create Notices and Court Forms
Answers questionnaires in plain language to generate the notices, optionally the documents for the Eviction Resolution Program, and then if needed for the eviction case. You will see help text and videos next to the questions provided by court officials and lawyers
3. Consult DRC Depending on Situation
Depending on your situation, you may be required to first have a Dispute Resolution Center resolve the dispute between you and your tenant, including by getting financial assistance to pay the rent
4. File for an Eviction Case
At this point you can file for an eviction case with the Superior Court of your county
Eviction Resolution Prorgram
The Eviction Resolution Program is a statewide program aimed at reducing evictions by connecting tenants with rental assistance and by mediating between the tenant and landlord. In case the mediation fails the program provides for a lawyer for the tenant
2021 Treasury Rent Assistance Program (T-RAP)
In Washington state, the The Treasury Rent Assistance Program (T-RAP) pays rent for households who face eviction due to their inability to pay rent due to COVID. The program covers rent for the past, present, and the future, in order to minimize the evictions among the deserving Washingtonians.
Landlords can secure rental assistance for their tenants
Landlords can apply for rental assistance on behalf of their tenants
Eviction Situations Covered
Unpaid Rent
Rent paid from August 1st 2021 is eligible grounds for eviction
Lease Term Violation
Lease term violations are valid grounds to file for eviction in Washington starting November 1st 2021
Crime or illegal activity
Evictions can still occur in case of a criminal activity
Selling your property
You can have renters without a lease to vacate if you're selling your propery
Renovations
Landlords can ask tenants to leave if they are pursuing substantial renovations
Accomodation for self
This occurs when the landlord decides to use the property themselves or for immediate family (e.g. parents)
Health or Safety Hazard
You can still evict a tenant in spite of Eviction moratorium if the tenant poses Threat to public health and safety
Court Forms Created
Our website guides you step by step through all relevant topics, and creates your complete set of Washington court forms for your Eviction case
Testimonials
After I filled everything out, I was able to print it out and bring it into the courthouse. When I got to the courthouse, they were able to go through and accept it all. I had no problems.
ARIEL ANDERSON
Lakewood, Washington
"LegalAtoms accurately creates the divorce application. We had an uncontested case with no assets but we still wanted to ensure that the paper work is just right. I filed at Spokane County and everything went fine"
Bremerton, Mark C.
Aug 2018
"LegalAtoms informed me about important distinctions in parenting plan and child support, which has positively changed my post divorce life. It gave me several options for the parenting plan. Educating myself helped me secure a more favorable arragement where I get to spend time with my children not just based on my ex's availability but also my own convenience"
Seattle, WA: Jennifer H.
Sept 2018
"My lawyer suggested me to work via LegalAtoms for efficiency. I really liked the questionnaires with tool tips, as I was able to get myself knowledgeable about all the issues."
Everett, WA: Tyrone H.
June 2018
"LegalAtoms lawyer was very knowledgeable and guided me through the divorce process. We disagreed on child custody and went on to the route of mediation. That was a better outcome than a trial. The lawyer's work was very superb, something I really appreciate now looking back at a very difficult period in my life."
Burien, WA: Michelle A.
Sept 2018
"LegalAtoms greatly simplified my paperwork. I really liked the tool tips next to every questions which provided me with all the relevant info that I needed"
Spokane, Sherryl A.
July 2018
"Simple, and to the point. I liked the lawyer videos, which provided me with tons of helpful insights. Highly recommended"
Tacoma, WA: Harris H.
June 2018
The program is a way to resolve landlords and tenant disputes and connect them with COVID rental assistance, before the landlords pursue court action.
As the eviction moratorium is lifted in Washington by October 31st 2021, there is an expectation that a a large number of eviction actions that would likely be initiated in superior courts across the state.
The Supreme Court of Washington, therefore Washington setup the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP). At the moment six relatively more populous counties -- King, Pierce, Snohomish, Clark, Spokane and Thurston -- have set up this program.
There was an eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which is a federal agency. However, that was overturned by the Supreme Court in August 2021 thereby ending the federal eviction moratorium and leaving the matter to individual states.
Read more in the New York Times news article.
The Washington has about $1.8 billion for rent and utilities assistance to distribute to landlords and tenants to offset the effects of the eviction moratorium.
The formal name of the program is county-levelTreasury Rent Assistance Program (T-RAP).
Governor’s Inslee's proclamation 21-09 directs county level officials to confirm once the rental assistance program is distributing funds.
Landlords meeting certain criteria could benefit from the Rent Assistance Program.
More details can be found here at the Department of Commerce website.
If the property is in the city of Seattle, you cannot evict just because of unpaid rent up to January 15th 2022. However there are other factors for example risk to public health for which you are allowed to evict. Read More ,
