Being Evicted
RCW 59.18.650 — a listed cause, 14 days to pay, and 10 days to fix a breach
In Washington, a landlord may not evict a tenant, refuse to continue a tenancy, or end a periodic tenancy except for one of the causes the statute lists, with narrow exceptions for fixed term leases that meet its conditions.
| The ground | The notice |
|---|---|
| The groundRent, utilities or recurring charges unpaid | The noticeA 14-day notice to pay or vacate, in the form the statute sets out |
| The groundA breach of a material term, other than money | The noticeWritten notice requiring the breach be fixed by a date at least 10 days after service |
| The groundWaste, nuisance, or unlawful activity affecting the premises | The noticeAt least three days' written notice to quit |
The summons sets a deadline, and missing it loses the defense. The eviction summons tells the tenant to appear and answer by a deadline. The form it has to use says that a tenant who does not respond by the deadline loses the right to defend, and that the court may appoint a lawyer without cost to a qualifying low-income renter.
A tenant may end a tenancy for a specified time by written notice not less than 20 days before its ending date. The eviction cause section read here is in force until January 1, 2028, when a new version takes its place.
Sources for this section (4)
- RCW 59.18.650 — Eviction and ending a tenancy; cause; notice
- RCW 59.12.030 — Unlawful detainer defined
- RCW 59.18.057 — Notice to pay or vacate; form
- RCW 59.18.365 — Unlawful detainer action; summons
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.