What is the landlord's right to possession in a real estate dispute?

In Washington, a landlord’s right to possession in a real estate dispute is generally determined through the laws of “forcible entry and detainer.” This law states that a landlord has the right to take possession of a property if they can prove they have a valid lease or rental agreement with the tenant. The landlord can take back possession of the property, even against the tenant’s will, as long as they have a court order. In order to receive a court order, the landlord must go through a legal process called an eviction. This involves filing a complaint to start a court case and serving the tenant with a summons and complaint. The tenant then has an opportunity to respond to the complaint and fight their eviction. If the tenant does not respond within the prescribed time limit, the court will generally enter a default judgment in favor of the landlord. Once the landlord has the court order, the tenant must leave the property or face jail time or a fine. The landlord also has the right to hire a sheriff or constable to enforce the court order. If the tenant still refuses to leave, the landlord may have to take the tenant to court to get them removed. Overall, in Washington, a landlord has the right to possession of a property in a real estate dispute if they can prove they have a valid lease or rental agreement with the tenant, and then follow the legal process to obtain a court order. The tenant must leave the property or face jail time or a fine once the landlord has the court order.

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What is the landlord's right to possession in a real estate dispute?

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