Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

Lease of rental

I had a lease with our apartment for 9 months. It is up June 30th. A new corperation bought the apartment complex a couple months ago and made changes in the lease with a 30 day notice. The apartment has a lot of probelems and we want to move end of May. We gave notice to vacate end of May and they have told us they will not let us out of lease even though we no longer feel that we have a lease. We never signed anything with new company. We live on fourth floor and elevatior did not work for two months. Security apartment has no locks on gates. People leave garbage everywhere.

No security lights in courtyard.


Asked on 5/07/07, 5:43 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elizabeth Powell ELizabeth Powell PS Inc

Re: Lease of rental

If your original lease is up June 30 then you can leave on or before June 30 with no further obligation.

Whatever changes the new corporation made to your lease cannot effect the term (length) of the lease without some kind of agreement from you, signed by you.

If you leave before the end of June they well could keep your deposit or sue you for June rent. You are liable for June rent.

When the elevator doesn't work, and there are no locks, you have to give written notice of the issue to your landlord and allow them the opportunity to correct (usually ten days). If, after written notice and time to correct, your remedy is to move out. But until you give the notice and the time to fix, you are liable.

You could still do that, by the way. Take pictures of the mess and keep copies. When you write to your landlord send it certified and keep copies, so you can prove you sent it. Hope this helps. Elizabeth Powell

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Answered on 5/07/07, 5:53 pm


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