Legal Question in Business Law in Washington

Property Lease and death of leasor

I have a lease in Washington State for our business. The landlord died, and we are being contacted by someone claiming to be his business partner. We owed some back rent. I have 2 questions. 1. How do I verify that these people are the owners of the building. 2. Since my lease was with the dead owner do I owe the back rent to the estate, or to the new building owner. If that depends, how do I verify.

Thanks.


Asked on 8/18/07, 9:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Theresa Petrey The Law Office of Theresa Petrey

Re: Property Lease and death of leasor

Pull out your lease contract and continue making payments to whomever the the party is you are supposed to make the payments to until such time as you are provided with the assignment of the previous landlord's interest.

Of course you continue paying rent-what do you think, there is a holiday from acting responsibly and you get a free lunch (rent) just because someone died? Sounds like a sure recipe for being evicted to me.

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Answered on 8/24/07, 12:42 am


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