Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington
Is there a way out of a lease?
Here goes: On Tues. June 27, 2006 my boyfriend & I went to look at a rental. We got to the house, the owner was painting some rooms. We asked to look around, he showed us around, but kept rushing us from one place to another, due to wet paint. The house seemed alright, we fill out the application. He calls us on Thursday June 29 & says that we can rent the house & should meet him Saturday, July 1st to sign the lease & pay.
We meet him, he rushes us through the lease, not letting us walk around the house. He says we need to sign the checklist that says all is in good condition, without us being able to do an walk through. He leaves within minutes. Not long after, we find empty febreeze bottles. We also saw that not only had the carpets not been cleaned as we were told, the were not even vacuumed. The smoke detectors aren't in working condition. The main problem is the strong smell of cat urine that permeates everywhere. It's so bad that my asthma flares up so badly that we have had to find places to stay. It seems quite obvious at this point that the only reason he painted anything was to mask the smell.
My question is, what are my rights?
Thanks in advanced.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Is there a way out of a lease?
You posted this July 5 and did not say whether you moved in or not. If you have not moved in, write him a letter, send it certified and tell him that you are not moving in and that you want your money back right now.
If you have moved in, then tell him, in writing certified that you are moving out and tell him why.
Your rights are to have an apartment or house that's clean. If it is not clean you have the right to move out and sue him. What you do not have is the right to stay there and not pay rent to him.
Sorry this is so harsh, but that's what the rules mean.
Powell