Washington Landlord Selling the House
Washington rules on landlord selling the house for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: If the landlord's role passes to someone else during the tenancy (for example, by sale), the security deposit money in the landlord's trust account must be moved at the same time to an equivalent trust account of the new landlord. RCW 59.18.270
The rules in Washington
| If the landlord sells the property | If the landlord's role passes to someone else during the tenancy (for example, by sale), the security deposit money in the landlord's trust account must be moved at the same time to an equivalent trust account of the new landlord. The new landlord must promptly tell the tenant about the transfer and give the name, address and location of the new depository. If the unit is foreclosed on and the deposit is not passed to the successor, the former owner must refund the full deposit to the tenant right away or be liable for up to twice the deposit. This section deals with the deposit; it does not itself say whether the lease continues after a sale. Source: RCW 59.18.270 |
|---|---|
| Tenants in foreclosure | In a nonjudicial (deed of trust) foreclosure of tenant-occupied property, the trustee must post and mail a notice to the 'Resident of property subject to foreclosure sale' when posting the notice of trustee's sale, warning that the property may be sold in 90 days or more and the new owner may offer a new rental agreement or give a 60-day notice to vacate. A tenant or subtenant in possession when the property is sold in foreclosure must get at least 60 days' written notice to vacate before removal (eviction for waste or nuisance excepted); the rule does not apply to a borrower who stays on as a tenant. Separately, under just-cause eviction rules, an owner who elects to sell a single-family residence must give at least 90 days' written notice to end the tenancy. Federal PTFA (90 days; bona fide leases honored) may give longer protection. |
Related questions
Washington vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | If the landlord's role passes to someone else during the tenancy (for example, by sale), the security deposit money in the landlord's trust account must be moved at the same time to an equivalent trust account of the new landlord. The new landlord must promptly tell the tenant about the transfer and give the name, address and location of the new depository. If the unit is foreclosed on and the deposit is not passed to the successor, the former owner must refund the full deposit to the tenant right away or be liable for up to twice the deposit. RCW 59.18.270 | In a nonjudicial (deed of trust) foreclosure of tenant-occupied property, the trustee must post and mail a notice to the 'Resident of property subject to foreclosure sale' when posting the notice of trustee's sale, warning that the property may be sold in 90 days or more and the new owner may offer a new rental agreement or give a 60-day notice to vacate. A tenant or subtenant in possession when the property is sold in foreclosure must get at least 60 days' written notice to vacate before removal (eviction for waste or nuisance excepted); the rule does not apply to a borrower who stays on as a tenant. Separately, under just-cause eviction rules, an owner who elects to sell a single-family residence must give at least 90 days' written notice to end the tenancy. RCW 61.24.143; 61.24.146; 59.18.650(2)(e) |
| Idaho | If a rental changes ownership during a tenancy, the new owner is liable for refunding the security deposits paid on it. A buyer of rented property gets the same rights to collect rent and enforce the lease that the seller had, and a tenant has the same remedies against the buyer for breach of the lease that the tenant had against the original landlord (except on covenants about title, encumbrances or possession). Idaho Code §§ 6-321(3), 55-301, 55-303 | Not verified yet |
| Oregon | Oregon has no state law in its Residential Landlord and Tenant Act that requires a selling landlord to transfer the security deposit to the buyer. The landlord's duty to disclose in writing who manages the property and who receives notices for the owner must be kept current and is enforceable against any successor landlord or owner. If the landlord has accepted an offer from a buyer who intends in good faith to live in the unit, a month-to-month tenancy (or a fixed term at or after its end) can be ended with at least 90 days' written notice stating the reason, and the landlord generally must pay the tenant one month's rent at the time of the notice (exemptions are in ORS 90.427(6)(b)). ORS ch. 90 (reviewed); ORS 90.305(2), 90.427(5)(a)(D), (6) | A tenant who gets actual notice of a foreclosure may apply the security deposit or prepaid rent toward rent and cannot be evicted for doing so. A fixed-term tenant may end the lease with at least 60 days' written notice. For buildings with 4 or fewer units, failure to disclose a pending foreclosure before signing lets a tenant who must move recover twice actual damages or twice the monthly rent, plus prepaid rent. After a trustee's sale, the buyer must give a bona fide tenant written notice: at least 60 days for a fixed-term tenant (30 days if the buyer will live in the unit), and 30 days for month-to-month or week-to-week tenants. The buyer must then use the court eviction process. If the buyer accepts rent or gives no move-out notice within 30 days of the sale, the buyer becomes the landlord. ORS 90.367, 90.310, 86.782(6)-(10) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Washington rental law
- Washington Security Deposit Law
- Washington Eviction Laws
- Washington Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Washington
- Washington Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Washington Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Washington
- Squatters' Rights in Washington
- Washington Rental Fee Rules
- Washington Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Washington Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Washington Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Washington Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Washington Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Washington landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Washington
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Washington Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in Washington?
If the landlord's role passes to someone else during the tenancy (for example, by sale), the security deposit money in the landlord's trust account must be moved at the same time to an equivalent trust account of the new landlord. The new landlord must promptly tell the tenant about the transfer and give the name, address and location of the new depository. If the unit is foreclosed on and the deposit is not passed to the successor, the former owner must refund the full deposit to the tenant right away or be liable for up to twice the deposit. (RCW 59.18.270)
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Washington?
In a nonjudicial (deed of trust) foreclosure of tenant-occupied property, the trustee must post and mail a notice to the 'Resident of property subject to foreclosure sale' when posting the notice of trustee's sale, warning that the property may be sold in 90 days or more and the new owner may offer a new rental agreement or give a 60-day notice to vacate. A tenant or subtenant in possession when the property is sold in foreclosure must get at least 60 days' written notice to vacate before removal (eviction for waste or nuisance excepted); the rule does not apply to a borrower who stays on as a tenant. Separately, under just-cause eviction rules, an owner who elects to sell a single-family residence must give at least 90 days' written notice to end the tenancy. (RCW 61.24.143; 61.24.146; 59.18.650(2)(e))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.