Fourteen-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate

FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR VACATE

State of Washington

IMPORTANT PRACTITIONER NOTES

Washington landlord-tenant law is governed by the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), RCW Chapter 59.18. Washington has enacted extensive tenant protections in recent years. Key requirements:

• Notice period: Landlord must provide 14 days' written notice for nonpayment of rent (RCW 59.18.057, RCW 59.12.030(3)).
• Rent only: The notice may demand only rent — not late fees, utility charges, or other non-rent charges unless specifically permitted.
• Statutory form required: The notice must be in substantially the form prescribed by RCW 59.18.057.
• Payment plan option: Tenants may request a reasonable payment plan (RCW 59.18.283).
• Right to counsel: Washington provides a statewide statutory right to court-appointed counsel for indigent tenants in unlawful detainer proceedings, subject to available appropriated funds (RCW 59.18.640; SB 5160, 2021). Eligible tenants apply through the Eviction Defense Screening Line (855-657-8387).
• Local ordinances: Seattle, Tacoma, and other cities may impose additional just-cause eviction protections and notice requirements.

I. NOTICE INFORMATION

Date of Notice: [__/__/____]

Landlord/Owner Name: [________________________________]

Landlord/Owner Address:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[City], Washington [____]

Landlord/Owner Telephone: [________________________________]

II. TENANT AND PROPERTY INFORMATION

Tenant Name(s):

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

AND ALL OTHER OCCUPANTS

Rental Property Address:

[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[City], Washington [____]

Unit/Apartment Number (if applicable): [________________________________]

III. FOURTEEN-DAY NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR VACATE

TO: The above-named tenant(s) and all other occupants of the premises.

YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS NOTICE BECAUSE THE LANDLORD ALLEGES YOU ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT BY FAILING TO PAY RENT AND/OR UTILITIES AND/OR RECURRING OR PERIODIC CHARGES THAT ARE PAST DUE.

IV. ITEMIZATION OF RENT DUE

The total amount of rent due is:

IMPORTANT: Under RCW 59.18.057, only rent may be demanded in this notice. Late fees, attorney fees, damages, or other non-rent charges are NOT included and cannot be the basis for an unlawful detainer action for nonpayment.

V. DEMAND FOR PAYMENT OR POSSESSION

YOU MUST PAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE TO YOUR LANDLORD WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS AFTER SERVICE OF THIS NOTICE OR YOU MUST VACATE THE PREMISES. ANY PAYMENT YOU MAKE TO THE LANDLORD MUST FIRST BE APPLIED TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE AS SHOWN ON THIS NOTICE. ANY FAILURE TO APPLY A PAYMENT TO RENT FIRST MAY BE A DEFENSE TO AN EVICTION UNDER THIS NOTICE.

Payment must be made pursuant to the terms of the rental agreement or by nonelectronic means including, but not limited to, cashier's check, money order, or other certified funds.

Termination Date (14 days from service): [__/__/____]

VI. RIGHT TO CURE — PAYMENT IN FULL

If you pay the full amount of rent due within fourteen (14) days of service of this notice, this notice is void and your tenancy continues.

VI-A. STATUTORY NOTICE OF RIGHTS AND RESOURCES (REQUIRED BY RCW 59.18.057)

You must pay the total amount due to your landlord within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice or you must vacate the premises. Any payment you make to the landlord must first be applied to the total amount due as shown on this notice. Any failure to comply with this notice within fourteen (14) days after service of this notice may result in a judicial proceeding that leads to your eviction from the premises.

The Washington state Office of the Attorney General has this notice in multiple languages, as well as information on available resources to help you pay your rent, including state and local rental assistance programs, on its website at www.atg.wa.gov/landlord-tenant.

State law provides you the right to legal representation, and the court may be able to appoint a lawyer to represent you without cost to you if you are a qualifying low-income renter. If you believe you are a qualifying low-income renter and would like an attorney appointed to represent you, please contact the Eviction Defense Screening Line at 855-657-8387 or apply online at https://nwjustice.org/apply-online. For additional resources, call 2-1-1 or the Northwest Justice Project CLEAR Hotline outside King County (888) 201-1014 weekdays between 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., or (888) 387-7111 for seniors (age 60 and over). You may find additional information to help you at http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org. Free or low-cost mediation services to assist in nonpayment-of-rent disputes before any judicial proceedings occur are also available at dispute resolution centers throughout the state. You can find your nearest dispute resolution center at https://www.resolutionwa.org.

State law also provides you the right to receive interpreter services at court.

VII. PAYMENT PLAN OPTION — RCW 59.18.283

IMPORTANT: You may offer or request a reasonable payment plan to pay the rent owed. If you have been offered an opportunity to enter into a payment plan but have failed to comply with that plan, you may not be offered another opportunity during your tenancy.

If you would like to request a payment plan, contact the Landlord at the address or telephone number listed above.

VIII. RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Washington law may provide you with a right to counsel in eviction proceedings. If an eviction case is filed against you, the court will inform you of your right to an attorney. You may also contact the following resources:

• Northwest Justice Project: 1-888-201-1014
• CLEAR Hotline (for low-income individuals): 1-888-201-1014
• Tenant Law Center: (206) 324-6890
• WSBA Lawyer Referral: (206) 443-9722

IX. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO PAY OR VACATE

If you fail to pay the full rent due AND fail to vacate within fourteen (14) days:

1. The Landlord may file an Unlawful Detainer action in Washington Superior Court or District Court pursuant to RCW 59.12.030;
2. You will be served with a Summons and Complaint;
3. You must respond within the time period stated in the Summons or a default judgment may be entered;
4. The court may award a Writ of Restitution ordering your removal from the premises;
5. The court may award the Landlord unpaid rent, court costs, and attorney fees as permitted by law;
6. A sheriff may execute the writ to remove you and your property.

X. PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

All payments must be delivered to:

Payable to: [________________________________]

Payment address:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[City], Washington [____]

Accepted payment methods:
☐ Cashier's check
☐ Money order
☐ Certified funds
☐ Personal check (if permitted by rental agreement)
☐ Electronic payment (if permitted by rental agreement): [________________________________]
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Payment hours: [________________________________]

XI. IMPORTANT TENANT RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

A. Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA)

Your tenancy is protected by the RLTA, RCW Chapter 59.18, which provides extensive rights for residential tenants.

B. Warranty of Habitability

Under RCW 59.18.060, landlords must maintain rental premises in habitable condition, including providing adequate weatherproofing, plumbing, heating, electricity, and compliance with health and safety codes. If the landlord has failed to maintain the premises, you may have defenses to eviction.

C. Retaliation Prohibited

RCW 59.18.240 prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise legal rights, including reporting code violations, filing complaints, or organizing tenant unions. Under RCW 59.18.250, a landlord action listed in RCW 59.18.240 taken within 90 days after a good-faith, lawful tenant act (or a resulting governmental inspection/proceeding) creates a rebuttable presumption that the action is retaliatory. (Note: if the tenant is in arrears in rent or in breach when the notice is given, RCW 59.18.250 instead presumes the action is NOT retaliatory.)

D. Just Cause Eviction (Local Ordinances)

If you live in Seattle, Tacoma, Federal Way, Burien, Auburn, or certain other Washington cities, additional just cause eviction protections may apply. Contact your local housing authority or legal aid for specific information about your municipality.

E. Domestic Violence Protections

Under RCW 59.18.575, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking have additional protections, including early lease termination and the right to change locks.

F. Source of Income Discrimination

Washington law prohibits discrimination based on source of income, including government assistance such as Section 8 vouchers (RCW 59.18.255).

G. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)

Active-duty servicemembers may have additional rights under the federal SCRA (50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq.).

H. Rental Assistance Resources

• Washington 2-1-1 — Dial 2-1-1 or visit www.wa211.org
• Washington State Department of Commerce — Rental Assistance Programs
• Local Community Action Agencies
• United Way of King County — (206) 461-3655

I. Security Deposit

Your security deposit is governed by RCW 59.18.260 through 59.18.285. Under RCW 59.18.280, the landlord must give a full and specific itemized statement of the basis for retaining any deposit — with copies of estimates/invoices substantiating the charges — together with any refund due, within 30 days after termination of the tenancy and vacation of the premises (or within 30 days after the landlord learns of abandonment). A landlord who fails to do so is liable for the full deposit, and a court may award up to twice the deposit for an intentional refusal, plus costs and attorney fees.

XII. CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, certify that on [__/__/____], I served this Fourteen-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate on the above-named tenant(s) by the following method(s) pursuant to RCW 59.12.040:

☐ Personal delivery — Hand-delivered to the tenant
☐ Substituted service — Left at the dwelling unit with a person of suitable age and discretion residing therein AND a copy mailed by regular mail to the tenant at the premises
☐ Posting and mailing — Affixed in a conspicuous place on the premises AND mailed by both regular AND certified mail to the tenant's last known address (may extend the notice period)

Person who served the Notice:

Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Telephone: [________________________________]

Signature: ____________________________________
Date: [__/__/____]
Time of Service: [____:____ ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m.]

XIII. LANDLORD / AUTHORIZED AGENT SIGNATURE

Landlord/Agent Name (Print): [________________________________]

Signature: ____________________________________

Date: [__/__/____]

Telephone: [________________________________]

XIV. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

This Notice is made without waiving any rights or remedies of the Landlord under the rental agreement, RCW Chapter 59.18, RCW Chapter 59.12, or any other applicable law.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

1. RCW 59.18.057 — Fourteen-Day Notice Form: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.057
2. RCW 59.12.030 — Grounds for Unlawful Detainer: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.12.030
3. RCW 59.12.040 — Service of Notice: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.12.040
4. RCW 59.18.283 — Payment Plans: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.283
5. RCW 59.18.640 — Right to Counsel for Indigent Tenants: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.640
6. Washington Attorney General — Landlord-Tenant Resources: https://www.atg.wa.gov
7. Northwest Justice Project: https://nwjustice.org

This Notice is intended to comply with RCW 59.18.057 and RCW 59.12.030. Washington has extensive and evolving tenant protections. Local ordinances may impose additional requirements. This template does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Washington attorney for guidance specific to your situation.