A Washington eviction notice form for nonpayment of rent is a written document that states a tenant has 14 days to pay the rent or vacate the premises. Additionally, there are other notice forms for other possible grounds for eviction in Washington.
Types of Washington Eviction Notices
Each possible ground for eviction has its own notice type. Some notices allow the tenant to fix (“cure”) the issue and continue the tenancy, while others simply state an amount of time to vacate by.
| Grounds | Time | Curable? |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Rent | 14-Day | Yes |
| Lease Violation | 10-Day | Yes |
| Waste/Nuisance | 3-Day | No |
| Lease Termination | 20-Day | No |
14-Day Notice to Pay (Nonpayment of Rent)
A landlord is allowed to evict a tenant for failing to pay rent on time.
According to Washington law, rent is considered late the day after it’s due; grace periods, if any, are addressed in the lease or rental agreement.
Once rent is past due, the landlord must provide tenants with a 14-Day Notice to Pay if the landlord wants to file an eviction action with the court. This notice gives the tenant the option to pay the past due amount in full within 14 days to avoid eviction.
If the tenant does not pay the rent due by the end of the notice period and remains on the property, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.
The notice must substantially conform to the following:
“You are receiving the attached notice because the landlord alleges you are not in compliance with the terms of the lease agreement by failing to pay rent and/or utilities and/or recurring or periodic charges that are past due.”
In addition, the notice must include the following amounts:
- Past-due rent;
- Past-due utilities (if any); and
- Other recurring or periodic charges authorized by the lease.
The notice must also include the following language (or be substantially similar):
“You must pay the total amount due to your landlord within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice or you must vacate the premises. Any payment you make to the landlord must first be applied to the total amount due as shown on this notice.”
Finally, the notice should include the following statement:
“Any failure to comply with this notice within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice may result in a judicial proceeding that leads to your eviction from the premises.”
Get the downloadable 14-Day Eviction Notice for Nonpayment of Rent form template below (.pdf direct link).
10-Day Notice to Cure or Vacate (Non-Compliance)
A tenant can be evicted in Washington if they do not uphold their responsibilities under the terms of a written lease/rental agreement.
Washington landlords must provide tenants with a 10-Day Notice to Comply, giving the tenant 10 days to correct the issue to avoid eviction.
Typical lease violations under this category could include things like damaging the rental property, having too many people residing in the rental unit, and having a pet when there’s a no-pet policy.
Note that illegal activity is not included in this category.
If the tenant fails to correct the issue after the notice period expires, the landlord may proceed with the eviction process.
The notice should include:
- The specific lease violation;
- The deadline by which the tenant must correct the issue; and
- That the tenancy will terminate if the issue is not corrected within the deadline.
Get the downloadable 10-Day Eviction Notice for Noncompliance form template below (.pdf direct link).
3-Day Notice to Quit (Waste/Nuisance)
For violations specifically related to waste, nuisances on the property, or unlawful businesses, the landlord must give tenants 3 days’ written notice prior to beginning the eviction process.
Tenants do not have the option to correct the issue(s) and must move out.
If the tenant remains on the rental property after the notice period expires, the landlord may continue with the eviction process.
The notice should include the date the tenancy will terminate.
Get the downloadable 3-Day Eviction Notice for Waste/Nuisance form template below (.pdf direct link).
20-Day Lease Termination Notice (No Lease/End of Lease)
In the state of Washington, if tenants “hold over,” or stay in the rental unit after the rental term has expired, then the landlord must give tenants notice before evicting them.
Often, the tenant has done nothing wrong, but the landlord simply doesn’t want to renew the tenancy.
Regardless of the type of tenancy (month-to-month, week-to-week, etc.), tenants must be given 20 days’ written notice before the landlord can proceed with an eviction action.
If the tenant remains on the property after the notice period expires, the landlord may continue with the eviction process.
The notice should include the date the tenancy will terminate.
Get the downloadable 20-Day Notice to Quit form template below (.pdf direct link).
What to Include in Washington Notices
The information required on a Washington eviction notice varies depending on the reason for the eviction and is addressed under each notice type below. However, for all notices, it’s a good idea include:
- The date the tenancy will terminate;
- The reason for the eviction; and
- The tenant’s name and contact information.
The landlord will also want to get the tenant’s signature confirming that they received the eviction notice, if the notice was hand-delivered.
Delivering Eviction Notices in Washington
In the state of Washington, landlords can deliver an eviction notice through the following methods:
- Giving it to the tenant in person;
- Mailing the notice to the tenant’s last known address via regular mail AND leaving a copy with someone of suitable age and discretion at the rental unit; or
- Posting the notice in a conspicuous place at the rental unit, AND leaving a copy with someone of suitable age and discretion at the rental unit, AND mailing a copy to the tenant.
Mailing may only be done if the tenant cannot be found at the rental unit. Posting may only be done if the tenant’s current address is unknown.
Eviction Process in Washington
- Notice is posted to correct the issue or vacate.
- If uncured and tenant remains, the complaint is filed and served.
- An answer is filed.
- A hearing is held and judgment issued.
- If an eviction is granted, a Writ of Restitution is posted at the property, giving final notice to the tenant to remove their belongings.
- Finally, the sheriff returns possession of the property to the landlord.
To learn more about the eviction process in Washington, click here.
Sources
- 1 WA Rev Code §59.18.057 (2019)
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(3) …notice in writing requiring in the alternative the payment of the rent or the surrender of the detained premises, served…on behalf of the person entitled to the rent upon the person owing it, has remained uncomplied with…for the period of fourteen days after service…
- 2 WA Rev Code §59.12.040 (2019)
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…by delivering a copy personally…or (2) if…absent…by leaving …with some person of suitable age and discretion, and sending a copy through the mail…or (3) if …his or her place of residence is not known…then by affixing a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place on the premises…and also delivering a copy to a person there residing…and also sending a copy through the mail addressed to the tenant…
- 3 WA Rev Code §59.18.057 (2019)
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(1) FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR VACATE THE PREMISES You are receiving the attached notice because the landlord alleges you are not in compliance with the terms of the lease agreement by failing to pay rent and/or utilities and/or recurring or periodic charges that are past due.
- 4 WA Rev Code §59.18.057 (2019)
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(1) Monthly rent due for (list month(s)): $ (dollar amount) AND/OR (2) Utilities due for (list month(s)): $ (dollar amount) AND/OR (3) Other recurring or periodic charges identified in the lease for (list month(s)): $ (dollar amount) TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: $ (dollar amount) Note – payment must be by cash, cashier’s check, money order, or certified funds pursuant to the terms of the rental agreement.
- 5 WA Rev Code §59.18.057 (2019)
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You must pay the total amount due to your landlord within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice or you must vacate the premises. Any payment you make to the landlord must first be applied to the total amount due as shown on this notice.
- 6 WA Rev Code §59.18.057 (2019)
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…Any failure to comply with this notice within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice may result in a judicial proceeding that leads to your eviction from the premises. OWNER/LANDLORD:___________DATE:______________ WHERE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE IS TO BE PAID: ___(owner/landlord name)______________ (address)________
- 7 WA Rev Code §59.12.030 (2019)
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(4) …after a neglect or failure to keep or perform any condition or covenant of the lease or agreement …after notice in writing requiring…the performance of such condition or covenant or the surrender of the property…Within ten days after the service of such notice the tenant…may perform such condition or covenant and thereby save the lease from such forfeiture.
- 8 WA Rev Code §59.12.030 (2019)
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(5) When he or she commits or permits waste upon the demised premises, or when he or she sets up or carries on thereon any unlawful business, or when he or she erects, suffers, permits, or maintains on or about the premises any nuisance, and remains in possession after the service …upon him or her of three days’ notice to quit…
- 9 WA Rev Code §59.18.200 (2019)
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(1)(a) When premises are rented for an indefinite time, with monthly or other periodic rent reserved, such tenancy shall be construed to be a tenancy from month to month, or from period to period on which rent is payable, and shall be terminated by written notice of twenty days or more, preceding the end of any of the months or periods of tenancy…
