Washington residential landlord tenant act, landlord's right to evict tenants

Chapter 59.18 RCW is the Residential landlord-tenant act. Chapter 59.12 RCW is the Forcible entry and forcible and unlawful detainer statutes. The statutes are here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=59 .

When you bought the property, you accepted whatever agreement the tenants had with the former owner. You will need to review that agreement.

Before you start legal proceedings, have you talked with the tenants? Perhaps they have been wanting to move anyway. If they agree to move, everyone will avoid the hassles of the legal proceedings.

If the tenants will not voluntarily move, you will have to go through the legal procedures to force them to move.

The parties in an unlawful detainer (eviction) proceeding must follow the statutory procedures. Failure to follow the procedures likely will result in the party not following the procedures losing.

You likely should review your facts and options with an attorney.