Coast Property Management 8/3/2020

Information for Tenants Page 15 of 15 and not ownership of the property. landlord may apply the proceeds of the sale of the deceased tenant's property toward any money owed If a tenant representative has made arrangements to to the landlord for the actual and reasonable cost of pay rent in advance,the landlord must mail this sec- moving and storing the property,whichever is less. If and notice to any known personal representative, des- there is excess income, it must be held by the land- ignated person, emergency contact person, or known lord for one year. If no claim is made on the excess successor of the tenant, and to the deceased tenant income before the expiration of the one year period, at the dwelling unit address. This second notice must the balance must be deposited with the Washington include the name, address, and telephone number State Department of Revenue as abandoned property. or contact information for the tenant representative who made arrangements to pay rent in advance,the The landlord must refund to the tenant representative amount of rent paid in advance, and date through any unearned rent and give a full and specific state- which the rent is paid. The notice must include a ment of the basis for retaining any deposit together statement that the landlord may sell or dispose of the with the payment of any refund due to the deceased property on or after the date through which the rent tenant within 14 days after the removal of the property is paid or at least 45 days after the second notice is by the tenant representative. mailed, whichever date comes later, if the tenant rep- resentative does not claim or remove the property. If a landlord knowingly violates these abandonment provisions, the landlord can be liable to the deceased If the landlord places the property in storage,the land- tenant's estate for actual damages. The prevailing lord must mail a second written notice(if this has not party in any action related to these requirements may already been done)to any known personal representa- recover costs and reasonable attorneys'fees. tive, designated person, emergency contact person, or known successor of the tenant, and to the deceased RECEIPTS tenant at the dwelling unit address. This notice must include a statement that the landlord may sell or dispose A landlord must provide a receipt for any payment of the property on or after a specified date that is at least made in the form of cash by a tenant. Upon the re- 45 days after the second notice is mailed,if the tenant quest of a tenant, a landlord must provide a receipt for representative does not claim and remove the property. any payment made by the tenant in a form other than cash. This includes payment for rent, deposits,fees, The landlord must turn over possession of the de- parking, storage, or any other costs associated with a ceased tenant's property to the tenant representative if tenancy. See RCW 59.18.063. a written request is made in a timely manner. The ten- ant representative must pay the actual or reasonable costs,whichever is less,of any moving and storage of COPIES OF DOCUMENTS the property, and provide to the landlord an inventory of If a checklist describing the physical condition of a all the removed property and a signed acknowledge- rental unit is completed pursuant to RCW 59.18.260 ment that the tenant representative has been given and SMC 7.24.030.C, a copy signed by both the land- possession and not ownership of the property. lord and the tenant must be provided to the tenant. If a tenant representative does not contact the land- When there is a written rental agreement for a prem- lord or remove the deceased person's property in a ises,the landlord must provide a fully executed copy timely manner, the landlord may sell or dispose of to each tenant who signs the agreement. A landlord the stored property, except for personal papers and must provide one free replacement copy of the written personal photographs. If the fair market value of the agreement if requested by a tenant during the ten- property is more than$1,000,the landlord must sell ancy. See RCW 59.18.065. the property in a commercially reasonable manner. All unsold property must be disposed of in a reason- able manner. If the value of the stored property is less VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION than$1,000,the landlord must dispose of the property Attached to this publication is information related to in a reasonable manner. registering to vote, and if already registered, how to update your address when you move. For more infor- The personal papers and photographs that are not mation go to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections. claimed by a tenant representative must be retained for 90 days after the sale or disposal of the deceased tenant's property and must either be destroyed or held for benefit of any successor of the deceased tenant. No landlord or an employee of the landlord may ac- quire, either directly or indirectly, a deceased tenant's property that is sold or otherwise disposed of. The