Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

Re: rights

It depends on what the rental agreement says. Some rental agreements discuss guests, others don't address it at all.

If the rental agreement discusses guests, then the rental agreement controls. It may say something like "guests may not remain overnight for more than XX days within a XX time period" and if a guest is there longer, then the landlord has the option to use a 10-day notice to conform to demand that the guest remove themselves.

If there is nothing in the contract regarding guests, then it is not a basis to evict a tenant on a 10-day notice.

On the other hand, there is a 20-day notice to terminate tenancy which does not require any reason at all. This notice is only available when there is no rental agreement at all, or when the agreement is a month to month agreement.

The landlord can change the terms of the agreement on 30 day's notice and add a clause regarding guests that would then be subsequently enforceable.

Hope this helps. Powell