Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

landlord and tenant act

I was given a notice to terminate tenancy on 5-31-2008 even know I had paid my rent on time for this month and I have never been late with my rent. am on month to month rent. can a landlord tell me what I could do and not to do and make me do a drug treatment when am not doing drugs at all.


Asked on 5/12/08, 6:00 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Amir John Showrai The Pacific Law Firm, PLLC

Re: landlord and tenant act

First, I need a lot more information to help you, and you can e-mail me directly after reading this, but I will do what I can with what you wrote here. I would need to know when you were given notice to terminate, but suffice it to say, if you are on a month to month lease, your landlord only needs to give you 20 days notice under the state residential landlord-tenant act.

Lots of folks think month to month is so great because they can leave at any time. On the other hand, most folks never consider that they may have to leave against their will at any time. It's a tug of war. 6 or 12 month leases bind landlords and tenants, but give each a sense of security as well. Month to month situations give the most freedom to both, but there is no dependability on the part of either.

As for the drug testing issues, there is no law that permits the landlord to require you to do drug testing. In fact, depending upon the reasons for asking for the drug testing, he may be liable in a civil suit on the basis of federal or state laws. If you feel that he has asked you to take drug tests on the basis of your race, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or religion, then I strongly suggest you contact a local attorney in your area who handles discrimination lawsuits in the housing context.

Overall though, I'd need to know how the eviction notice ties into the drug testing issue, since that is not evident from your submission.

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Answered on 5/12/08, 10:38 am


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