What are the laws regarding locking tenants out of their rental properties?
In the state of Washington, landlords are prohibited from locking tenants out of their rental property as a form of eviction. Locking out tenants is illegal in the state and can result in a tenant taking action in court. Under Washington law, a landlord must use the courts to lawfully evict a tenant. Eviction proceedings must be handled through Washington’s district court system. A landlord cannot take direct action to evict a tenant, such as changing the locks. The landlord must follow the legal process and file a lawsuit in the district court that has jurisdiction over the rental property. After the landlord files a complaint in court, tenants are served with a summons and complaint that outlines the number of days they must respond by or risk a default judgment. Before a landlord is allowed to evict a tenant, a judge must approve the eviction. The judge may make a decision at the hearing or later review the evidence and issue a ruling. Even if a landlord is able to get a court order, they cannot lock a tenant out before certain conditions are met. Generally, the landlord must wait until the court order has been carried out and the tenant has been given the appropriate amount of time to move out of the rental property. Washington tenant rights include the right to not be locked out of the rental property. Tenants who feel that their landlord has locked them out of the rental property should contact an attorney immediately to discuss their rights and legal options.
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