What is the process for evicting a tenant who fails to pay rent?

In Washington, the process for evicting a tenant who fails to pay rent is complicated and governed by the state’s landlord-tenant laws. Generally, Washington landlords must provide their tenants with written notice that the rent is due and unpaid. If the tenant does not pay the rent within the designated time period provided in the written notice, the landlord can then begin the eviction process. The first step in the eviction process is to file a Summons and Complaint for Unlawful Detainer with the Superior Court for the county where the rental property is located. The document must be served on the tenant. Once served, the tenant has a certain amount of time to respond. This timeline can vary from 3 to 21 days depending on the county. If the tenant does not respond, the landlord can then file a Motion for Default Judgment with the court. If the Motion is granted, then the court will issue an Order for Removal of Tenant. This document gives the tenant a warning to vacate the property within a certain period of time or the landlord can ask a court official to remove the tenant from the property. If the tenant still does not vacate the property, the landlord must then hire a constable or sheriff to physically remove the tenant. The constable or sheriff will provide the tenant with a 24-hour notice before the removal. The tenant can still avoid being removed by paying the past due rent. The landlord is responsible for paying any court costs associated with the eviction process. The entire eviction process can take between one and three months, depending on the county.

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What is the process for evicting a tenant who fails to pay rent?

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