OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington House has approved a measure that would require landlords to provide a valid reason for ending certain leases with tenants.
The bill advanced out of the Democratic-led chamber Sunday and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Under current law, landlords are allowed to end month-to-month leases with 20 days’ notice, without providing a reason.
The House proposal specifies reasons that landlords could end leases, including failure to pay rent, unlawful activity and nuisance issues, as well as cases in which a landlord intends to sell or move into a rental.
Under the proposal, landlords who remove tenants in violation of the rules may be subject to a penalty of up to three months’ rent.