City of Seattle
Renting in Seattle
MOVING OUT
There is a lot to know about ending a rental agreement. This
brochure discusses what to do when you want to move out or
when your landlord gives you notice to move. It also talks about
security deposit return, landlord access and the eviction process.
Visit www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle or call the Renting in
Seattle Helpline at (206) 684-5700.
When You Want To Move
• If you rent month to month, you need to provide
a minimum of 20 days written notice to your
landlord prior to the end of the month you
want to leave.
• If you have a lease for a specic period, refer to the
lease agreement to check the notice requirements.
• Failure to give proper notice might make you
responsible for rent in the following rental period.
• Breaking a lease is allowed by law under very rare
and specic circumstances. If you must end your
lease before it expires, try to negotiate a mutual
termination with your landlord and seek legal
advice if necessary.
When Your Landlord
Wants You to Move
If you have a lease, review the section on how
the lease ends. If it ends on a certain date,
provides no option to renew and does not revert
to a month to month agreement, you may need
to leave according to the lease.
• If you rent month to month, your landlord
must have a just cause to terminate your
tenancy. A written notice must state the
just cause reason clearly and provide the
required notice period to vacate your unit.
There are 18 just cause reasons which can
be found on www.seattle.gov/rentinginseattle.
• Some just cause reasons require a landlord
to pay relocation assistance.
• If you get a notice from your landlord
requiring you to move, call the Renting in
Seattle Helpline to see if it is a valid notice
that meets all legal requirements.
Hello?
My landlord gave
me a notice...
21
Deposit Return
• Within 21 days of the end of the rental
agreement, your landlord must refund
your deposit or provide a full and specic
statement, explaining why any portion of
the deposit is being withheld.
• Contact the Renting in Seattle Helpline if
your landlord does not comply with the 21-
day requirement.
• Disputes about damage versus wear and
tear, the cost of repairs and unpaid bills,
must be resolved through mediation
through the Dispute Resolution Center
of King County, www.kcdrc.org or through
small claims court, www.kingcounty.gov/
courts/district-court/small-claims.aspx.
Move-out Condition
• You are required by law to return the
unit in the same condition you found it
minus reasonable wear and tear.
• Your landlord should have provided
a move-in checklist at the time you
entered into your rental agreement and
must rely on that checklist to determine
if you damaged the unit.
• If damage exists, your landlord must
consider the age and condition of the
damaged item and cannot charge more
than its actual value.
• An exit walkthrough with your landlord
is a common practice but not required
by law. Take care to document the
condition of your unit before returning
keys. Photos and video may be helpful
if there is a dispute about your deposit
return.
Carpet
Curtains
Countertops
Paint
Conditions at
Move-in time
Conditions at
Move-out time
Fair
condition -
some fading/
tracks
Same
Damaged
by the cat
Unapproved
painting in
bedroom
Good
condition
Same
1” burn
mark by
sink
Newly
painted
throughout
Seattle believes in inclusion and equity. Immigrants and refugees are welcome. City employees do not
ask about citizenship status and serve all residents regardless of immigration status.
If you have a disability and would like to receive information from us in an alternative format please
call our helpline. Our TTY line is (206) 233-7156.
Interpretation is always available. This document is available in:
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Eviction
A landlord must secure a Writ of Restitution from superior court to evict
a tenant.
The process begins with a notice to comply or vacate. If the tenant fails
to resolve the notice before it expires, the landlord can le an ‘unlawful
detainer’ in superior court and serve the tenant with a summons and
complaint. The tenant must respond by the deadline stated or risk a
default judgement. A judge ultimately decides the outcome at a show
cause hearing.
It is essential to get legal help immediately if you get a notice from your
landlord and try to avoid eviction if it all possible. An eviction on your
rental record can make renting in the future very challenging and can
also damage your credit.
Call the Renting in Seattle Helpline for more information.
Landlord Access
• Your landlord has a right to
show your unit to prospective
renters, workers or buyers with
1 day advance notice.
• Access for necessary or agreed
upon repairs requires 2 days
advance notice.
• You can deny access if you
have a genuine reason such as
a scheduling conict but make
sure you provide alternative
dates and times.
• Both you and your landlord must
be reasonable about access to
the unit.
City of Seattle
Seattle.gov/rentinginseattle
Helpline (206) 684-5700