Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in District of Columbia
I was subletting a room in an apartment.The tenant I'm subletting from is the sole person on the lease. It is a month-to-month lease and prohibits subletting without the landlord's notice and consent. I signed a lease with the tenant and not the landlord. I have since moved out ( she has issues making the apartment uninhabitable). Can I sue the rent I paid while living under an illegal lease?
Asked on 9/15/09, 11:53 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson
Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson
If you mean could you successfully sue on the grounds you've suggested the tenant who subletted to you, my answer would be no, since under the doctrine of "unclean hands", yours would likely be found by the judge as soiled, so to speak, as the defendant's (in my opinion).
Answered on 9/20/09, 12:08 pm