Guide
Biohazard cleanup for landlords and property managers
When a tenant dies in a unit, or a unit is left with blood, waste or needles, the owner usually has to get it cleaned before anyone can live there again.
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What Washington law says
Landlord duties
RCW 59.18.060 requires the landlord to keep the premises fit for human habitation, keep shared areas reasonably clean, sanitary and safe, and provide a reasonable program to control insects, rodents and other pests.
Tenant duties
RCW 59.18.130 requires tenants to keep their unit as clean and sanitary as its condition permits, dispose of garbage properly, and pay for extermination of infestations they caused.
After a death
The unit cannot be cleaned until police and the Medical Examiner release it. The tenant’s belongings belong to the estate; talk with the family or the person handling the estate before anything is thrown out.
Practical steps
- Keep the unit locked and the door to the affected room closed
- Tell neighbors only what they need to know, for example about odor or work in the hallway
- Check shared walls, floors and the unit below for seepage
- Ask the company for photos and a written description for your insurer
- Keep a record of who was given keys and when
Apartment buildings and shared spaces
In multi-unit buildings, contamination can reach hallways, the unit below or shared ductwork. Tell the company how the building is laid out so they can plan containment and work hours.
Whenever you are ready
You do not have to sort this out alone
Some families call the same evening. Others call after the service, or after talking with the landlord. Until then, keep the door to the room shut and leave the cleaning to people with the right protective gear.
Speak with a cleanup company
The call goes to an independent company that works in your ZIP code. Describe the room, ask how they would handle it and how they set the price. Nothing is agreed until you say so.
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