tenant property left after lease ends

[Cristal Sanchez]

tenant lease ends today. They still have a lot of junk at the house. Since the lease ends tomorrow, and they've had 90+ days notice of non renewal, can I change the locks tomorrow and have their possessions collected and removed by a company, and use their deposit for those costs?

[Patricia Steiner]

Where is the tenant?  If the tenant is still on premises or has not departed the residence, then you cannot change the locks.  Here's the law in Washington State on the issue:

 https://www.nolo.com/legal-enc....

Please know that it isn't your non-renewal notice that makes changing the locks a done deal.  When a tenant doesn't leave at lease expiration, the tenant is then known as a "holdover tenant."  You won't want to accept rent after the expiration because it then becomes an agreement for a month-to-month rental.

Know the law so that when it's over, it's over.