susceptible to only one reasonable reading. J.P., 149 Wn.2d at 450 (citing State
v. Wilson, 125 Wn.2d 212, 217, 883 P.2d 320 (1994)).
In Seattle, a landlord cannot evict, or attempt to evict, a residential tenant
without just cause. Former SEATTLE MUN. CODE 22.206.160(C) (2011). The
landlord must provide a termination notice stating the reason for the termination
and facts supporting that reason. Former SMC 22.206.160(C)(3). There is just
cause for eviction if the owner elects to sell the rental property:
The owner elects to sell a single-family dwelling unit and nives the
tenant at least 60 days' written notice prior to the date set for
vacating. . . . For the purposes of this Section 22.206.160, an
owner "elects to sell" when the owner makes reasonable attempts
to sell the dwelling within 30 days after the tenant has vacated,
including, at a minimum, listing it for sale at a reasonable price with
a realty agency or advertising it for sale at a reasonable price in a
newspaper of general circulation. There shall be a rebuttable
presumption that the owner did not intend to sell the unit if:
(1) Within 30 days after the tenant has vacated, the owner does not
list the single-family dwelling unit for sale at a reasonable price with
a realty agency or advertise it for sale at a reasonable price in a
newspaper of general circulation, or
(2) Within 90 days after the date the tenant vacated or the date the
property was listed for sale, whichever is later, the owner withdraws
the rental unit from the market, rents the unit to someone other than
the former tenant, or otherwise indicates that the owner does not
intend to sell the unit;
Former SMC 22.206.160(C)(1)(f). (Emphasis added.)
4
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