CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1865

Chapter 43, Laws of 2008

(partial veto)

60th Legislature
2008 Regular Session



WRITS OF RESTITUTION--LANDLORD OBLIGATIONS



EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/12/08

Passed by the House February 13, 2008
  Yeas 96   Nays 0

FRANK CHOPP
________________________________________    
Speaker of the House of Representatives


Passed by the Senate March 7, 2008
  Yeas 48   Nays 0


BRAD OWEN
________________________________________    
President of the Senate
 
CERTIFICATE

I, Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1865 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.


BARBARA BAKER
________________________________________    
Chief Clerk
Approved March 17, 2008, 3:09 p.m., with the exception of section 2 which is vetoed.







CHRISTINE GREGOIRE
________________________________________    
Governor of the State of Washington
 
FILED
March 18, 2008







Secretary of State
State of Washington


_____________________________________________ 

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1865
_____________________________________________

Passed Legislature - 2008 Regular Session
State of Washington60th Legislature2008 Regular Session

By House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Williams, O'Brien, Springer, Fromhold, Warnick and McCune)

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/07.   



     AN ACT Relating to limiting the obligations of landlords under writs of restitution; amending RCW 59.18.312; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 59.18.312 and 1992 c 38 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A landlord ((may)) shall, upon the execution of a writ of restitution by the sheriff, enter and take possession of any property of the tenant found on the premises ((and store the property in any reasonably secure place)). The landlord may store the property in any reasonably secure place, including the premises, and sell or dispose of the property as provided under subsection (3) of this section. The landlord must store the property if the tenant serves a written request to do so on the landlord or the landlord's representative by any of the methods described in RCW 59.18.365 no later than three days after service of the writ. A landlord may elect to store the property without such a request unless the tenant or the tenant's representative objects to the storage of the property. If((, however,)) the tenant or the tenant's representative objects to the storage of the property or the landlord elects not to store the property because the tenant has not served a written request on the landlord to do so, the property shall be deposited upon the nearest public property and may not be ((moved and)) stored by the landlord. ((If the tenant is not present at the time the writ of restitution is executed, it shall be presumed that the tenant does not object to the storage of the property as provided in this section. RCW 59.18.310 shall apply to the moving and storage of a tenant's property when the premises are abandoned by the tenant.)) If the landlord knows that the tenant is a person with a disability as defined in RCW 49.60.040 (as amended by chapter 317, Laws of 2007) and the disability impairs or prevents the tenant or the tenant's representative from making a written request for storage, it must be presumed that the tenant has requested the storage of the property as provided in this section unless the tenant objects in writing.
     (2) Property ((moved and)) stored under this section shall be returned to the tenant after the tenant has paid the actual or reasonable drayage and storage costs, whichever is less, or until it is sold or disposed of by the landlord in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.
     (3) Prior to the sale ((or disposal)) of property stored pursuant to this section with a cumulative value of over ((fifty)) one hundred dollars, the landlord shall notify the tenant of the pending sale ((or disposal)). After ((forty-five)) thirty days from the date the notice of the sale ((or disposal)) is mailed or personally delivered to the tenant's last known address, the landlord may sell ((or dispose of)) the property, including personal papers, family pictures, and keepsakes, and dispose of any property not sold.
     If the property that is being stored has a cumulative value of ((fifty)) one hundred dollars or less, then the landlord may sell or dispose of the property in the manner provided in this section, except for personal papers, family pictures, and keepsakes. Prior to the sale or disposal of property stored pursuant to this section with a cumulative value of ((fifty)) one hundred dollars or less, the landlord shall notify the tenant of the pending sale or disposal. The notice shall either be mailed to the tenant's last known address or personally delivered to the tenant. After seven days from the date the notice is mailed or delivered to the tenant, the landlord may sell or dispose of the property.
     The landlord may apply any income derived from the sale of the tenant's property against moneys due the landlord for drayage and storage of the property. The amount of sale proceeds that the landlord may apply towards such costs may not exceed the actual or reasonable costs for drayage and storage of the property, whichever is less. Any excess income derived from the sale of such property shall be held by the landlord for the benefit of the tenant for a period of one year from the date of the sale. If no claim is made or action commenced by the tenant for the recovery of the excess income prior to the expiration of that period of time, then the balance shall be treated as abandoned property and deposited by the landlord with the department of revenue pursuant to chapter 63.29 RCW.
     (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating a right of distress for rent.
     (5) When serving a tenant with a writ of restitution pursuant to RCW 59.12.100 and 59.18.410, the sheriff shall provide written notice to the tenant that: (a) Upon execution of the writ, the landlord ((may)) must store the tenant's property only if the tenant serves a written request on the landlord to do so no later than three days after service of the writ; (b) the notice to the landlord requesting storage may be served by personally delivering or mailing a copy of the request to the landlord at the address identified in, or by facsimile to the facsimile number listed on, the form described under subsection (6) of this section; (c) if the tenant has not made such a written request to the landlord, the landlord may elect to either store the tenant's property or place the tenant's property on the nearest public property unless the tenant objects; (((b))) (d) if the property is stored, it may not be returned to the tenant unless the tenant pays the actual or reasonable costs of drayage and storage, whichever is less, within thirty days; (((c))) (e) if the tenant or the tenant's representative objects to storage of the property, it will not be stored but will be placed on the nearest public property; and (((d) if the tenant is not present at the time of the execution of the writ, it shall be presumed the tenant does not object to storage of the property)) (f) the landlord may sell or otherwise dispose of the property as provided in subsection (3) of this section if the landlord provides written notice to the tenant first.
     (6) When serving a tenant with a writ of restitution under subsection (5) of this section, the sheriff shall also serve the tenant with a form provided by the landlord that can be used to request the landlord to store the tenant's property, which must be substantially in the following form:



REQUEST FOR STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY


. . . . . . . .
Name of Plaintiff



. . . . . . . .
Name(s) of Tenant(s)


     I/we hereby request the landlord to store our personal property. I/we understand that I/we am/are responsible for the actual or reasonable costs of moving and storing the property, whichever is less. If I/we fail to pay these costs, the landlord may sell or dispose of the property pursuant to and within the time frame permitted under RCW 59.18.312(3).


     Any notice of sale required under RCW 59.18.312(3) must be sent to the tenants at the following address:


. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
IF NO ADDRESS IS PROVIDED, NOTICE OF SALE WILL BE SENT TO THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS OF THE TENANT(S)


Dated:. . . . . . . .


. . . . . . . . . . .
Tenant-Print Name


. . . . . . . . . . .
Tenant-Print Name


This notice may be delivered or mailed to the landlord or the landlord's representative at the following address:


. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
This notice may also be served by facsimile to the landlord or the landlord's representative at:


. . . . . . . . . . .
Facsimile Number



IMPORTANT



IF YOU WANT YOUR LANDLORD TO STORE YOUR PROPERTY, THIS WRITTEN REQUEST MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE LANDLORD NO LATER THAN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE SHERIFF SERVES THE WRIT OF RESTITUTION. YOU SHOULD RETAIN PROOF OF SERVICE.

     *NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
     *Sec. 2 was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.


         Passed by the House February 13, 2008.
         Passed by the Senate March 7, 2008.
         Approved by the Governor March 17, 2008, with the exception of certain items that were vetoed.
         Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 18, 2008.

     Note: Governor's explanation of partial veto is as follows:

"I am returning, without my approval as to Section 2, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1865 entitled:

     "AN ACT Relating to limiting the obligations of landlords under writs of restitution."

Section 2 is an emergency clause. An emergency clause is to be used where it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety or whenever it is necessary for the support of state government. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1865 clarifies the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants, while including new rights for tenants. Consequently, I do not believe that an emergency clause is necessary.

For this reason, I have vetoed Section 2 of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1865.

With the exception of Section 2, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1865 is approved."