Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

we have been in a lease with option the option ends in aug of 2010, we love the home but the owner is becoming more difficult to deal with she has come to the property drunk cussing out my children making flagrent acusations and some o her family members have also caused problems here for instance we live on a private rad with one other house which she also owns we asked him to slow down for the safty of our kids and he verbaly thretend us my kids are scared to even go out and play we placed 10 g,s down and dont want to lose it but we cant live like this were ever afraid that if we terminate the lease things are going to worse befor we can get out of here we have though about packing evertyhing inside the house and bringing the moving truck in at the mid night to avoid the imenent conflict that will come is there anything we can do about this harrasment.


Asked on 9/17/09, 10:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Amir John Showrai The Pacific Law Firm, PLLC

You are in a difficult position to be sure. As I understand it, you have paid $10,000 for the option to purchase your home that you lease and have until August 2010 to exercise the option. Since your landlord is giving you such a hard time now, and since you like the home so much, why not go and get financed to purchase the home at the agreed upon option price, and as soon as you have approval for the financing, notify your landlord that you are exercising the option.

You will then own the home and the landlord will be out of your hair. Now, as for their relatives that share the private road with you, that will be a little tougher. I would suggest that you wait and see if they cool down. Stay away from them, and maybe even make a kind gesture to them. You'll be shocked how sometimes that is all it takes to calm them down. Suddenly they think you're the best thing since sliced bread and never give you trouble again.

If that does not work, then you have to get tough and file a petition for an anti-harassment restraining order. Make sure you have as many witnesses to their behavior as possible. Preferably witnesses who are not related to you, if that is possible. Otherwise, whomever your witnesses and maybe video or other evidence you have, use that to seek your anti-harassment order.

That will forever put you at war with these folks, in the sense that you'll never get along with them, but that is better than having to walk around in fear of them.

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Answered on 9/23/09, 1:10 am


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