Governor extends eviction moratorium

— from Governor Jay Inslee’s Office —

Gov. Jay Inslee extended protections for renters today as COVID-19 continues to impact the finances of Washingtonians statewide.

The governor first proclaimed a moratorium on evictions in mid-March, then extended and expanded the moratorium in mid-April. 

Proclamation 20-19.2 extends the prior eviction moratorium for 60 days (through August 1), and makes modifications to the prior moratorium. The modifications include, but are not limited to:

• Prohibiting retaliation against any tenant who invokes rights or protections under the proclamation;
• Permitting eviction based on property damage, except for damage that is not urgent in nature, including conditions that were known or knowable to the landlord prior to the COVID-19 crisis;
• Establishing a defense to any lawsuit for tenants if a landlord fails to offer a reasonable repayment plan;
• Establishing a minimum of a 14-day length of stay at a hotel, motel or at other non-traditional dwelling situations in order to trigger the application of this proclamation to those dwelling situations; and
• Allowing owners to evict tenants if the owner plans to occupy or sell the property, after providing at least 60 days’ notice; and
• Exempting commercial property rent increases that were executed in a rental agreement prior to the date the state of emergency was declared, on February 29.

Other restrictions, including the prohibition on assessing late fees or other charges, are continued in this order.

The proclamation also encourages landlords and tenants to communicate in good faith with one another, and to work together on the timing and terms of payment and repayment solutions.

Read the full proclamation here.