Wash. Rev. Code § 59.28 § 59.28.070
Removal of tenants -- Notice of expiration or prepayment -- Timing.
Operative Text
From the date of service of the notice under RCW 59.28.040 until either twelve months have elapsed or expiration or prepayment of the rental assistance contract or mortgage or loan, whichever is later, no owner of federally assisted housing may evict a tenant or demand possession of any federally assisted housing unit, except as authorized by the federal assistance program applicable to the project, prior to expiration or prepayment of the rental assistance contract or mortgage or loan.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.28.070, once an owner of federally assisted housing has served the required notice of expiration or prepayment, a protected window opens during which no eviction or demand for possession may occur. This window lasts until the later of twelve months after the notice is served or the actual expiration or prepayment of the rental assistance contract, mortgage, or loan. The only exception is for evictions specifically authorized by the applicable federal assistance program itself, and even those may not proceed before the contract or loan expires or is prepaid.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners of federally assisted housing subject to Wash. Rev. Code § 59.28.070 are generally expected to refrain from initiating any eviction action or demand for possession during the protected period that begins on the date the RCW 59.28.040 notice is served. Compliant operators typically track both the twelve-month anniversary of that notice and the actual contract or loan end date, honoring whichever falls later as the earliest permissible point for action. The narrow exception for federally authorized evictions still requires that the applicable federal program itself sanction the removal, and even then, action before expiration or prepayment is not permitted.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.28.070 provides tenants in federally assisted housing with a meaningful protection period after the owner serves a notice of expiration or prepayment — no eviction or demand for possession may occur until at least twelve months have passed from that notice, or until the rental assistance contract, mortgage, or loan actually expires or is prepaid, whichever comes later. If an owner attempts to remove a tenant before that window closes, the tenant may have grounds to raise this provision as a defense in any eviction proceeding. Tenants who believe this protection is being violated can explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization, reaching out to a legal aid office, or filing a complaint with a relevant housing authority for guidance on next steps.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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