Wash. Rev. Code § 59.04 § 59.04.030
Tenancy for specified time -- Termination.
Operative Text
In all cases where premises are rented for a specified time, by express or implied contract, the tenancy shall be deemed terminated at the end of such specified time.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.04.030, when a rental agreement covers a fixed period of time—whether that period is set out explicitly in writing or established through the parties' conduct—the tenancy automatically ends when that period expires. No additional notice from either party is required to bring the tenancy to a close; the passage of time itself constitutes termination. This rule applies to any premises rented for a specified duration, regardless of how the time period was originally established.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.04.030, a compliant operator generally documents the start and end dates of any fixed-term tenancy clearly in the lease agreement, so that the termination date is unambiguous. Because the tenancy ends by operation of law at the expiration of the specified term, operators typically track lease end dates carefully and plan accordingly for unit turnover or lease renewal. Where a new tenancy is intended after the original term, operators generally execute a new or renewed agreement before the prior term expires to avoid ambiguity about the tenancy's status.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.04.030 establishes that a fixed-term tenancy ends automatically at the close of the agreed-upon period, which means a landlord generally cannot extend the tenancy beyond that date without a new agreement, nor can a tenant claim a right to remain solely on the basis of the prior lease. Tenants who believe a landlord is misapplying this rule—for example, by treating a fixed-term lease as continuing indefinitely—may wish to review the terms of their rental agreement and consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Washington law. If a dispute arises about when a tenancy ended or what obligations remain, tenants can explore options such as contacting a local housing authority or seeking guidance from a legal aid organization.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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