How can a landlord legally terminate a lease?

In Washington, there are strict legal procedures that landlords must follow in order to legally terminate a lease. The first step for the landlord is to provide written notice to the tenant at least twenty days prior to the termination date. The notice must indicate the date the tenant must vacate the premises. If the tenant fails to comply with the notice, the landlord can initiate an eviction lawsuit. The landlord must also have the legitimate cause to end the lease, such as the tenant not paying rent, having a pet in violation of a no-pets policy, or breaking other terms of the lease. If the tenant is behind on rent and the landlord wants them to move out, the landlord must ensure that the tenant has been given a three-day notice to pay rent or vacate. If the tenant has caused damage to the property, the landlord must provide the tenant with an estimate of the necessary repairs. The landlord can only terminate the lease after the tenant has been given thirty days to repair the damage. If the tenant does not make the repairs, the landlord can terminate the lease. Finally, if the landlord wishes to terminate the lease for any other reason, they must wait until the expiration of the lease term, unless the tenant agrees to move out earlier. Terminating the lease early can result in legal action from the tenant against the landlord.

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