If my renters have violated the month-to-month lease agreement, canI evict them in 3 days?

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If my renters have violated the month-to-month lease agreement, canI evict them in 3 days?

They have not payed rent and have animals there that are not listed on contract. There’s also physical damage to my deck and they never mowed the grass (which there are supposed to do according to the terms of the month-to-month lease).

Asked on July 5, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Washington

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

In WA, if you are evicting for non-payment of rent a 3 day notice is appropriate; if you are evicting for non-compliance (e.g. not mowing the lawn or unlisted pets on the premises), then a 10 day notice is required. However serving notice does not give you the automatic right to evict. You must file an action in court; if the judge decides in your favor then your tenants must leave. If they still fail to vacate, then you can have the sheriff come and remove them. The whole process can take about 3-4 weeks or more. In the meantime do not take any self-help measures such as changing the locks, removing their belongings and/or turning off the utilities. If you do you could find yourself on the wrong side of a civil suit (and possibly criminal case).

Note:  The notice should: be in writing, be dated, have all of the tenant's names on it, give the reason for the notice, and give a date for them to leave by.


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