Senate Clarifies Landlord Tenant Eviction Procedures

wa.gov, Mar 15, 2005

OLYMPIA Recognizing that landlords may be confused by apparent conflicts between state law and civil court rules, the Senate today approved a measure to clarify eviction procedures.

"This legislation will make the law easier to understand for both the landlord and the tenant," explained Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett. "That makes the legal process more efficient for everyone."

Senate Bill 5479, sponsored by Berkey, clarifies when weekends and holidays are counted as part of an eviction notification process. It also gives tenants the option of responding to an eviction notice by fax.

"It's just common sense to make the law easier to understand," Berkey said. "Landlords and tenants should be able to understand the process without hiring an attorney."

The bill was approved unanimously by the Senate and now goes to the House of Representatives.