![]() ![]() If your landlord accepts money after issuing the notice, document the payment in writing, because in some situations (but not all) it may invalidate their eviction notice. Your landlord does not have to accept partial payments for rent during the fourteen day timeline, though they may choose to. ![]() If the grace period passes and you have not paid your rent in full, your landlord can serve you with a 14-day pay or vacate notice and issue a late fee. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act in Washington State does not specifically entitle tenants to a grace period of any kind. ![]() Most rental agreements indicate a due date for the rent, usually the first of the month, and some indicate a grace period before the rent is to be considered late, usually three to five days later. A 14-day notice to pay or vacate can be served upon a tenant who is even one day behind or one penny short in rent. The landlord may still be able to file a lawsuit against them or send them to collections in an attempt to recover money they owe. Some tenants choose to leave within the 14-day timeline because vacating may allow them to avoid the eviction lawsuit. The law does not allow tenants to withhold rent because of unmade repairs (except in limited cases), complaints against the landlord, or money the landlord owes them. There are no explicit exceptions in the law for people with young children, or people who have lost their jobs or have been met with other unexpected loss of income or personal tragedies. Always prioritize paying your rent above other expenses. Some landlords won’t accept any money until after the court process is complete. If the tenant makes a partial payment or pays after the timeframe the landlord may still be able to proceed with eviction. A landlord must accept the rent payment if it is made in full and paid within the 14 day timeframe, and will no longer be able to proceed with the eviction. Always avoid paying in cash, but if you do, RCW 59.18.063 requires that the landlord provide a receipt for all cash payments. There are very few ways to stop an eviction for non-payment of rent, if you actually owe the money, besides paying your rent in full within the fourteen day timeframe. Eviction is a court process and your landlord cannot have you removed from the premises until a court order has been issued. A 14-day pay or vacate notice does not mean that you have to vacate the premises within fourteen days. In order to win in court against an eviction for non-payment of rent, the tenant must be able to establish that they do not owe the rent the landlord is trying to collect. It is very important that any agreement you come to with your landlord be in writing, signed and dated by both parties if possible. There may be a brief period at the very beginning of the eviction in which tenants can negotiate directly with their landlord to stop the eviction. It does not have to be delivered by the sheriff or notarized in order to be valid. Your landlord may personally deliver the notice to you. Weekends are included in the notice days. If the notice is posted on the door and sent in the mail, don’t count the day it was served in the timeframe. According to RCW 59.12.040, the landlord must attempt personal service of the eviction notice (give it to the tenant personally) or the landlord may leave it with another person of suitable age and discretion who resides there, or if no one of suitable age and discretion is there, post it on the door, provided it is also sent in the mail. These notices are indicators that the landlord is going to initiate an unlawful detainer action against you if you do not respond within the time limit. ![]()
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