Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Washington

I lived at the Maplewood Park Apartments ( 3815 NE 4TH ST. RENTON, WA 98056 ) oct.2010-jan2011 I was on a month by month lease and was told if i plan to move i must inform them 30 days in advanced. I informed them i had to move nov.2010 due to a family death and being that this was my first apartment i wanted to be 100% positive that everything was taken care of correctly. My roommate and i went in to sign the release papers after signing the papers we were told the manager was not in but the papers will be placed on her desk, she called me the next day or so and told me that she signed the paperwork and i will no longer be accountable for anything after the first of jan. 2011. in jan.2011 (after i had moved and was "off the lease") she signed someone on the lease with my old roommate then they had moved and someone else was signed on, i dont know exact dates.Today I received paperwork from the Columbia Recovery Group in Bellevue, WA telling me i owe $1,910.04 i called and was told i owe because the manager didnt sign the papers like she told me she did and i have no defense because its all a contract and anything verbal doesnt count? but they told me they are going to call and all she has to do is give a "verbal" response saying she "forgot" to sign the release approval????


Asked on 1/30/12, 7:08 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Baner Baner & Baner

Hint: if it smells like fish it probably has fins. Contact the Housing Justice Center (Renton may report to the Kent center) if you're low income. An interesting thing there is that CRG is actually a debt collector subject to various FDCPA provisions they might be pushing the line on (not sure). Remember that they must also PROVIDE YOU with a written basis of the costs and itemized inventory of damage.

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Answered on 1/30/12, 8:15 pm


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