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Legal Information: Washington

Housing Laws

Updated: 
December 15, 2023

After I give notice to terminate my lease, what rent do I have to pay?

You will have to pay rent only for the month in which you terminate your lease but not for the following months.1 So, for example, let’s say you usually pay your rent on the first of the month and you want to terminate your lease in the month of January. You will still have to pay a full month’s rent whether you leave the rental property on January 2nd or January 31st. But you will not have to pay rent for February or the remaining months on the lease.

However, if you don’t pay rent monthly, then you may have to pay rent for a shorter period of time. For example, if you pay weekly, then you’d have to pay for the week period when the termination takes place.2

1 R.C.W. § 59.18.575(2)(a)
2 R.C.W. § 59.18.575(2); see R.C.W. § 59.18.200(1)(a)

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