Can a victim of domestic abuse be evicted from their home?

In the state of Washington, a victim of domestic abuse may not be legally evicted from their home, as such actions could qualify as a form of discrimination. According to Washington’s domestic abuse law, “No landlord may refuse to rent a dwelling to a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking on the basis of his/her status as a victim”. This means that if a landlord were to attempt to evict a tenant due to their status as a victim of domestic violence, that landlord may face legal repercussions. Additionally, if the abuser is also the landlord or co-tenant, the victim does have certain protections against eviction. According to Washington law, the abuser must be given 24 hours’ notice before eviction proceedings and the victim must be allowed to pursue a claim for money damages. Lastly, if the victim is a tenant under a lease or rental agreement, the victim has the right to void the agreement, which would protect them from being evicted. In summary, under Washington law, it is illegal for a landlord to evict someone due to their status as a victim of domestic abuse. The victim can also take advantage of other safeguards, such as voiding their lease or filing a claim for money damages, should their abuser be the landlord or co-tenant.

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Can a victim of domestic abuse be evicted from their home?

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