Legal Question in Business Law in Washington

Re: Rental Agreements

Your agreement is not necessarily null and void in its entirety. Contracts that are revised or modified unilaterally are not void, but may be voidable, depending upon the facts. Generally, a contract would be void or voidable only if a material term of the contract is altered or modified. A late payment penalty would not generally be considered a material term. The fact that you have already withheld your security deposit from your last month's rent may be inviting trouble. If you made improvements to the landlord's property without an agreement to receive credit for them, those improvements will be deemed voluntary expenditures on your part. If your soon-to-be former landlord finds anything wrong with the property after you move out, then they will be sending you a bill. I strongly suggest that you attend and be in person at the moveout walk through inspection with the landlord so that you can challenge any items of damage and/or lack of cleaning that may be asserted by your landlord. Otherwise, you will have to take the landlord's word for what he supposedly found dirty or broken. Ordinary wearand tear cannot be claimed as damage or unclean condition. You would be well advised to have either a still camera or even a video camera with you also. You may not need it but the very fact that you have it hanging from your neck may be enough to intimidate the landlord. Good luck and let me know via email how you did on this situation.