How Do I End A One-Year Lease Agreement Due To Tenants Paying Rent Late Constantly And Causing Damage To The Home?

There are a several different options for terminating a lease in these circumstances.

First, if rent is being paid late you can serve the tenant with a three-day notice to pay rent or vacate. If the tenant does not pay rent within three days of receiving the notice, you can start an eviction.

If the tenants pay rent but continue to cause damage to the property, that is probably a breach of terms in the lease agreement. It is also a violation of Washington law for a tenant to negligently or purposefully destroy or cause damage to the premises. The landlord can give the tenant notice of the non-conformance and either demand repairs, or eventually perform the repairs and charge the tenant for the cost of repairs—to be paid with the next rent payment.

The landlord can also begin an eviction if the tenant has not substantially complied with a request to make repairs after 30 days. But if the tenant makes the repairs prior to entry of a judgment in the eviction action, the court may allow the tenant to remain if the initial term of the lease has not expired.

Attorney at Law

Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.