February 2020 Bar Bulletin
By Sebastian Stock
State law surrounding residential landlord-tenant disputes and evictions received a major update with the passing of Substitute Senate Bill 5600. Some of the changes were simple expansions of tenants’ rights, such as extending the pay-or-vacate notice cure period from 3 days to 14 days. Other changes were more subtle, yet no less important. One such change vastly expanded tenants’ rights to reinstate their tenancies under RCW 59.18.410(2) & (3) in eviction cases based on nonpayment of rent.
Prior to SSB 5600 taking effect on July 28, 2019, Section .410 of the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (RLTA) required tenants to...