How long does a land lord have to file a claim against a tenant for damages caused by the tenant after they have vacated the unit. In the city of Seattle

I am not are that Washington State, or anywhere else for that matter, allows a landord to file a lien against an ex-tenant without first obtaining a judgment. And, if the ex- tenant has no real property he or she is trying to sell, what would such a lien accomplish anyway?

I also assume the security deposit was already refunded because it was determined there was no damage at the time the keys were handed over (which was when any issues should have been brought up)... and the "hidden" damage was only discovered later?

In Washington the time for filing a lawsuit against a former tenant for property damage is 3 years from the time they vacated.