Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington
Landlord/Tenant
Must landlord refund any Front money If prospective tenant Has paid and later decides not to move in.? I paid her $1500. She wrote me a recpt. No agreement was signed. While waiting for the house to become available, I changed my mind and would like the money back.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Landlord/Tenant
Sounds as though the agreement never happened, and thus you should get your money back.
You should write her once and demand - politely- that she return your money. Send your letter certified. Keep a copy.
If you don't get the money back in fairly short order, sue her in small claims.
Be prepared with some kind of proof - your canceled check, your bank account, your money order, something to prove you paid.
Under the deposit refund statute the court can order the landlord to pay twice what was taken, so in small claims, ask for $3000. You may or may not get it but you will not get it if you don't ask for it.
The statute is RCW 59 18 280. Hope this helps.
Elizabeth Powell