Washington 14-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate the Premises

Last Revised: January 20, 2023.

About this Form

This form is a legally-compliant "14-Day Notice" to pay rent or vacate due to nonpayment of rent in Washington state. It is professionally crafted to meet the requirements outlined in Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 59.12.030(3). This notice serves as the first step in the eviction process, giving the tenant the option to either pay all past-due rent within 14 days of receipt of the notice or vacate the premises. The form is a standard, unlocked Microsoft Word document, reusable, customizable to fit your specific situation, and can be downloaded immediately after purchase.

Overview of the Eviction Process in Washington

The eviction process in Washington is governed by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, as stated in the Revised Code of Washington. Landlords must strictly follow the procedures outlined in the Act when attempting to evict a tenant and must secure a judgment from the court before proceeding with the eviction.

Notice Requirements

To initiate the eviction process, the landlord must give the tenant notice in accordance with the Act. The notice requirements vary depending on the reason for the eviction, specifically whether the tenant is being evicted for not paying rent or violating the lease or rental agreement.

For non-payment of rent, the landlord must give the tenant a 14-day notice as stated in Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 59.12.030(3). This notice informs the tenant of their obligation to either pay the delinquent rent in full within 14 days or vacate the rental unit. If the tenant fails to pay the delinquent rent within the specified time frame or vacate the rental unit, the landlord may proceed with the eviction lawsuit.

Full vs. Partial Payment After Notice Issuance

A landlord must accept full rent payment if paid within the 14-day timeframe and cannot proceed with eviction after such payment. However, if the tenant makes a partial payment or pays outside of the timeframe, the landlord may still proceed with eviction.

Filing a Complaint and Summons

If the tenant fails to comply with the notice provided by the landlord or does not vacate within the required period, the landlord may file a complaint and summons with the court, as outlined under Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 59.12.070, to commence the eviction action. The tenant will be served with a copy of the complaint and summons and will be afforded a reasonable period, typically a week, to respond to the complaint. The complaint will bear a date stamp indicating the deadline for the tenant's response to the court. The tenant must respond to the complaint before the deadline if they wish to contest the eviction. The tenant's response should set forth all relevant defenses they wish to raise in opposition to the eviction.

Order to Show Cause and Hearings

The tenant may receive an Order to Show Cause, notifying them of an upcoming hearing. The tenant must attend the hearing and present their defenses in person to contest the eviction. After hearing the arguments of both the landlord and the tenant, the judge will make a final decision on the matter of eviction. The judge's decision is final and binding as per Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 59.18.370.