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Washington Landlord - Tenant Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: What type of lawyer is needed for a rental with toxic well water (e.coli found) & toxic levels of black mold?

I am writing on behalf of my brother’s family.

Their rental is on a well. Main well dried up -they are on the backup well - located up the hill. The water comes out of a uncovered tube. They’ve complained to their landlords & were told the water is fine -they won’t fix or drill a... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Nov 11, 2022

A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. You chose the correct categories to post under - landlord-tenant and personal injury. Those are the types of attorneys who would have insight into this. As a starting point, your brother could consult with a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Are mold cases ever successful?

Tenants in our building have chronic health issues. Signs of mold and water damage everywhere. Bursting pipes ignored. One tenant had professional testing done which yielded positive for toxic mold. Can these results be used for all tenants? Are mold cases ever successful?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Apr 21, 2022

A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. As a general matter nationwide, they can be difficult cases. Some law firms are reluctant to take them on because things are not as clear-cut as more traditional accident cases involving clearly definable damages... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Washington on
Q: Where can I find a civil rights lawyer that handles commercial discrimination real estate cases?
Randy Bryan Ligh
Randy Bryan Ligh
answered on Feb 24, 2022

Start buy using the Find a Lawyer tab above and search for civil rights attorneys in your area----call a few and discuss your matter with them. Good luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Landlord - Tenant and Probate for Washington on
Q: My mom passed away and owned a house where she had a roommate but we need to sell the house. How do we handle this?

The roommate doesn't have a lease or anything in writing. We're concerned she may not leave because she doesn't have the means but we need to be able to access the house to prepare it for sale. We need to know what our rights are as the estate administrators.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Dec 28, 2021

It is your duty as an Estate Fiduciary to file the eviction action for possession of the Beneficiaries' real property. Hire a competent WA attorney to file suit.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Is my employer illegally making me pay more for rent than is allowed by Washington state plus some?

You

Well I work 5 days a week and I'm the general manager along with being the maintenance guy. I am the only one usually working here. I am also on call 24/7 and 7 day a week with the emergency phone. I am required to live on property. I am in a 2 bedroom apartment which is small. and... View More

Brad S Kane
Brad S Kane
answered on Nov 10, 2021

Under the Federal Labor Standards Act, your employer can only make deductions from your wages is several requirements are met. Even then, the wages deductions must be actual cost with no profit. For more info go to:

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/direct-care/credit-wages...
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2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: My 65yr old mother lives in a building that wont do anything about the severe bed bug infestation. Legal action?

The building is owned and operated by a city housing authority, Its been in and out of the news due to the bed bugs. I was bitten the first night and reported it and now over a year later its infested so bad. The maintance wont take out the infested mattresses and furniture. There is not a... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on May 5, 2020

A Washington attorney could advise best, but you await an answer for two weeks. In terms of the eviction-related elements of your matter, a landlord-tenant attorney would need to advise on that. In terms of the tort-based elements involving bed bugs, they are tough cases and many attorneys are... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Moving out after our lease is up.

Hello,

Our 6-month lease ends May 31st, we notified our landlord, on May 2nd, that we would be out by the 31st (end of lease).

He claimes that we did not give him enough time to find a new tenant so we have to stay and pay for the month of June.

Is this correct?

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on May 6, 2019

Your written lease controls the answer to your question. If the written lease you signed says you have to give the landlord a longer notice than the customary 30 days, then whatever the lease says answers this question.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Hello ,my 5 yr old son and. I rent room .while we were gone my landlord went through window and went through the room.

Is this burglary?

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Jan 24, 2019

Why did he do that? You can report that to the police as possible breaking and entering, and you may have a case for breach of contract to sue the landlord for damages. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Is it legal for your landlord to come over without giving notice& unlock the door and let himself in?

Once a landlord gives you a three day notice but the reason you’re not paying rent is because of on habitable conditon

On the third day of the notice to your landlord comes over for some unknown On the third day of the notice to your landlord comes over for some unknown reason knocks on... View More

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Jan 3, 2019

Typically landlords must give reasonable notice prior to entering a home for a valid reason. This may have been properly effectuated, but your facts are a bit vaguely stated. The bigger issue seems to be the delayed repairs to the home during a mold infestation. Why are you still in the home rather... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: My landlord raised my tent without notice didn't tell me till the day I was paying that I owed three hundred more.

Also the landlord decided she wanted a new lease and only put me and my son on it not my boyfriend even though we all have been living at the same place for almost a year and after wards pointed out that my boyfriend is a guest and him being there longer than two days now broke the lease.

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Dec 24, 2018

Your lease should be reviewed re: the terms of having visitors over. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney such as myself. You can read more about me, my credentials, awards, honors, testimonials,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: If two applicants are applying for a 1 bedroom apartment, do I have to take both of their incomes into consideration?

Two applicants over 18 not legally married looking for a 1 bedroom apartment and want to use both of their incomes combined to income qualify

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Dec 26, 2018

Yes, as they would both be jointly and severably liable for rent. Why would you not want to do that? Are there other factors that disqualify them? More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney such as... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Recording private conversation and who must I allow in my home.

I knew daughter's unemployed boyfriend would be a problem so I made a very simple 1 page agreement with her that she only, could live in my Seattle condo, and pay just half the normal rent. When I would come from out of state to work on condo as planned, I was never allowed in because boy... View More

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Dec 26, 2018

Even if your daughter is breaching your contract by allowing others to live there, there is legal process for evictions that must be followed. A landlord cannot enter a unit at will. As for being recorded in someone's home, see:... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Does your landlord legally have to tell you if you are responsible for extra utilities outside of your unit?

My landlord didn't tell me who was responsible for the porch and landing lights that can be used by two separate apartments. I have lived here two years and never once used the lights. After seeing them left on again by the neighbor, I asked the landlord who pays for the lights. She... View More

Ali Shahrestani,
Ali Shahrestani,
answered on Dec 26, 2018

You should not be paying your neighbor's utility bill, and you can request a full refund of the bills you've paid (acquire invoice copies) and fix of this situation. The utility company may need to come to the home to fix this too. More details are necessary to provide a professional... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: After given a 3 day to pay or vacate notice, how long do I actually have to vacate?

I saw on the "Tenates Rights" web pages that I actually have 21 days before the sheriff would come and start putting stuff out of the house. Is that correct?

Mark David Nusz
Mark David Nusz
answered on Sep 1, 2018

It generally takes several weeks before the sheriff will come and actually evict / put you stuff out on the curb. The answer to your question is: it depends on several factors, one of which is which city / county you live in. While the laws that pertain to tenant evictions are set out in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: My stepfather owns his home, but the electric bill is in my mother's name, she also pays the electric bill, and has been

staying their for a year and three months now, do he have the rights to call the police and have them to put her out even without an eviction notice?

Mark David Nusz
Mark David Nusz
answered on Sep 1, 2018

No. If she's there and has utilities in her name then she probably had a right to be there at some point. She would have to be removed with proper notice and due process.

Additionally, if your mother has any ownership rights to the house, it is unlikely that she could be removed at...
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0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: I have some questions about landlord/tenant laws.

1) can the landlord come onto the property without notice?

2) After moving in i found that the walls in the basement are roting. Surely the landlord new about this issue. What can i do?

0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: I entered into an agreement, where I transferred into my name all utilities, for a place to live? Am I a tenant?

No personal relationship with the owner, who wants me to move out with no notice

0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Landlord gets violent .d.what are my rights?

He has got violent with me.& abusive mentally...Most recent he came in and got mad because I was handling some personal problems & he didn't like it..& I said something.& he flipped out. Tearing my hanging beads off the wall..screaming names.& he thre & broke a table... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: What does it mean for landlord to attempt to mitigate damages resulting from abandonment. see details for quote.

PROVIDED, That upon learning of such abandonment of the premises the landlord shall make a reasonable effort to mitigate the damages resulting from such abandonment:

Brent Bowden
Brent Bowden
answered on May 15, 2018

It means, usually, that you try to find a new tenant. If a tenant abandons the premises or breaks the lease 3 months into a one year lease, you can't just do nothing and then demand the next 9 months of rent. You have to make reasonable efforts to find a new tenant.

That is a pretty...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: Does a tenant need to state an exact move out date on a 20 day notice, and also can a text be considered a 20 day notice
Brent Bowden
Brent Bowden
answered on Apr 3, 2018

It is very difficult to give any detailed answers regarding your specific situation without reviewing the lease and getting more of the details, but in general, the point of giving notice is to let the landlord know when you will be ending the lease. I am not aware of any specific case law or... View More

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