Tenant Law Center
Tenant Law Center offers free legal assistance to qualifying low-income persons in King County through the King County Tenant Resource Line (206) 580-0762 or 1-855-485-8767.
Our Mission:
The mission of Tenant Law Center is to reduce homelessness by preventing illegal and unnecessary evictions. We assist vulnerable tenants in our community by focusing on negotiated resolutions that preserve tenant housing, preserve subsidies, or allow for relocation to suitable housing without the stigma of eviction.
Through our partnership with Housing Justice Project and Tenants Union of Washington, we are able to provide assistance throughout the county Tuesday - Thursday, from 10am-1pm, via the King County Tenant Resource Line: 206-580-0762. Tenant Law Center’s case management services are available to assist enrolled TLC clients with non-legal issues such as basic needs referrals, connection to resources and, as a Community Partner of Housing Connector, assistance locating and acquiring housing.
Our Services:
Evictions from private, public, or subsidized housing: If you have received an eviction notice, it is important that you do not ignore it. Eviction timelines are very short and having an eviction on your record damages your ability to rent housing in the future. Getting help early in the process can often resolve the issue before you end up in court.
Subsidy Termination: If you have a Section 8 voucher or live in subsidized housing and have received notice that your assistance is being terminated
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If, due to a medical condition or disability, you need to request a reasonable accommodation to preserve your tenancy or subsidy.
Services We Cannot Provide:
- Roommate disputes
- Eviction from transitional housing programs
- Reasonable Accommodation Requests with no threat of eviction
- Relocation Assistance
- Financial Assistance*
*While we do not have rental assistance to help you, we do have template materials that we can email you to help you negotiate a payment plan with your landlord, negotiate a termination of your tenancy or to document that your landlord is no longer accepting rent.
Please fill out this form and we will send you these materials. This is the fastest way for us to help you.
These are the same materials we would offer you if you wait on hold to speak with us. We may not have capacity to call you back, but we will email you materials. Please be as detailed as possible on the form.
Please take all legal documents seriously. If you have a summons to court, even if it is not filed, you can be evicted without a hearing if you do not respond on time.
If you have a pay or vacate notice you cannot be evicted without a court order. You may have defenses against eviction in court and you may qualify for a free attorney if you have a court summons. You do not need to leave by the date on the notice.
Contact Us
King County Tenant Resource Line:
(206) 580-0762
Tuesday - Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
IMPORTANT: Please do not email TLC for legal assistance; call the hotline at the number above.
Mail Donations To:
Catholic Community Services
Attn: Fund Development
100 23rd Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98144-5979
Location
Additional Resources
Conflict Solutions That Work! – Dispute Resolution Center of King County (kcdrc.org)
Housing Justice Project (kcba.org)
Solid Ground Housing Resources
If you'd like to get involved in tenant rights advocacy near you, follow this link to connect with Stay Housed Stay Healthy, an advocacy group of King County renters!
Housing Know Your Rights Workshop
- Solid Ground Rent Smart Seminar in English or Spanish – these free webinars are offered twice a month in the afternoon. Register at Events King County Library System (bibliocommons.com)
Additional Assistance Numbers
- Financial Assistance: Call 211
- Rapid Rehousing Assistance: Call 211
- Reasonable Accommodation if not facing eviction/subsidy termination:Community Living Connections: 206-962-8467
- Economic Displacement Relocation Assistance: Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections: 206-684-8600
Client Testimonials:
“I thought your services were handled in a professional, compassionate, understanding way. I can’t thank you enough!”
“Very helpful and kind. It was exactly what I was in need of in terms of legal support and everything was handled quickly and effectively.”
“The staff was sincere and empathetic, and we really appreciated being informed of the progress every step of the way. We no longer felt ‘alone’ or overwhelmed by our situation.”