The House Housing Committee on Jan. 13 received a staff report and sponsor testimony on House Bill 1003, a measure to change how notices required under the unlawful-detainer chapter may be served by mail.

Audrey Vasek, committee staff, summarized the proposal: service by mail for unlawful-detainer notices would be considered complete when the notice is deposited with postage prepaid by certified mail posted from anywhere in the state and directed to the last known address of the person being served; when served by mail the bill would require five additional days before a landlord may start legal action based on the notice. Vasek also noted the bill aligns service rules for some Residential Landlord Tenant Act notices with the unlawful-detainer chapter.

Peter Albarno, sponsor and a state representative for the 20th Legislative District, told the committee the bill adds an “additional mechanism” to effect service and said it should reduce costs and logistical burdens for property owners who live outside the county where a property is located. “It provides another process,” Albarno said, and the change also “provides the tenant additional time” when certified mail is used.

Committee members asked staff and the sponsor for clarification about existing service requirements and whether certification changes current rules; staff said the bill does not eliminate existing methods but adds certified mail posted from within Washington as an option and lengthens the notice period when that method is used.

No committee vote was taken. The chair suspended the hearing on HB 1003 and said the committee will continue the hearing on Jan. 14 to allow more testimony.