Get free answers to your Landlord - Tenant legal questions from lawyers in your area.
My current landlord of a commercial property said that I have to ask the previous bankrupt owners for the security deposit as I am leaving after the lease expires. I don't have their details and also is it really the previous owners responsiblity? Can someone just change ownership of a... View More 
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answered on Nov 27, 2023
In Seattle, WA, when a commercial property changes ownership, the responsibility for returning a tenant's security deposit can depend on the terms of the sale and the lease agreement. Generally, the new owner assumes the obligations of the previous owner, including the responsibility for... View More
WE HAVE BEEN VIOLATED BY LANDLORDS, WE COMPLAINED TO D.O.J AND DID DEMAND LETTER IN 2023, WHICH WE WERE PROTECTED FOR 90 DAYS WHICH WOULD BE , THEY VIOLATED OUR RIGHTS BY HAVING BOYFRIEND BE SERVED AN ILLEGAL EVICTION FORM THAT'S NOT SIGNED OR STAMPED BY A JUDGE. WE ARE STILL BEING VIOLATED... View More
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answered on Nov 19, 2023
In your situation, where your landlord has allegedly violated a stalking protection order by sending text messages, it's crucial to understand your legal options and the steps you can take. First, document all instances of these violations, including the text messages and any other forms of... View More
Can I be compensated since I have a lease
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answered on Nov 16, 2023
In Washington state, when a house is being sold during probate, the executor of the estate is generally required to give tenants 90 days to vacate the premises. This is because the executor is responsible for selling the property at the highest possible price, and it is difficult to do this if the... View More
Is it legal,I've done nothing to violate my lease
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answered on Nov 15, 2023
Even though your landlord has passed away, their estate is still responsible for upholding the terms of your lease agreement. This means that you may be able to sue the estate for wrongful eviction.
On this for relief against these two Unimaginably deceitful individuals I'm sure would satisfy any good soul in a victory over bad people that treated me so bad you could probably get a judgement on their house in Edmonds,Wa.
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answered on Nov 7, 2023
If you believe an anti-harassment order was wrongfully obtained against you, you may consider appealing the order in court. You'll need to provide evidence that the claims made by your landlord and her daughter were false. It's crucial to act promptly since there are often strict... View More
Is it a binding agreement?
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answered on Oct 23, 2023
The enforceability of the verbal agreement you had with your landlord regarding a 2-year lease after his passing can be complex and depends on various factors, including state laws, evidence, and the willingness of the new property owner to honor the commitment. While verbal agreements can be... View More
The Legal Lessor locked me out of my business he violently forced me out of the store, and I filed a case in police department.
answered on Sep 28, 2023
Generally speaking, a commercial landlord can only exercise its right to lockout a commercial tenant if the tenant has failed to timely pay rent, and must provide a key for access to the premises promptly when the tenant cures any default in the payment of rent.
If the landlord wrongfully... View More
How long before I can throw it away
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answered on Sep 26, 2023
In Washington, how long you must hold onto someone's belongings after they've left your residence may vary depending on the situation. Typically, you would need to follow state regulations or local ordinances regarding abandoned property. Generally speaking, giving formal notice and a... View More
They used over 2 thousand in accidental overpayments in rent to cover charges to fix up the property. Are they obligated to return that money and send a bill for the charges? This is in Olympia WA
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answered on Sep 22, 2023
In Olympia, Washington, the terms of your lease agreement generally dictate what a landlord can and cannot do with overpayments or deposits. Typically, a landlord is required to provide an itemized list of damages and the associated costs within a specific timeframe after you move out. However, if... View More
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answered on Sep 19, 2023
If your roommates enter your room without your permission and handle your belongings, they might be infringing on several legal principles. Firstly, every individual has a recognized right to privacy. This extends to shared living spaces, where each resident typically has an expectation of privacy... View More
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answered on Sep 19, 2023
In Washington state, landlords are legally obligated to ensure that rental properties are habitable and safe. If your landlord has not addressed essential repairs, especially those affecting health and safety, after being notified, you might have grounds for legal action or remedies. These can... View More
Am a caregiver, caretaker of property. Owner has dementhia,daughter is POA. She shut power off.
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answered on Sep 4, 2023
In Washington State, the ability of a property owner or their legal representative (like a power of attorney) to shut off utilities, including power, can depend on various factors, including the terms of any agreements in place and the specific circumstances.
If you have an agreement in... View More
There is a non emergency plumbing issue, leak, under our apartment. They want us to move units for up to 2 months ASAP with no moving help. We are a family of 5 and they won't give us a time limit just saying right now if possible. We are low income housing and don't have the money for... View More
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answered on Jul 12, 2023
Landlords are generally required to provide written notice to tenants in advance for any significant changes or disruptions, including requests to temporarily move units. The notice period can vary, but it's typically 30 to 60 days.
Regarding relocation assistance, some jurisdictions... View More
Am I required to pay the full monthly rent if I only lived in the unit for 14 days? I requested to get my bathroom/kitchen vinyl replaced & the contractors discovered mold underneath the vinyl. I was asked to leave my apt during repairs which last 16 days. I was not aware of any leakage but my... View More
answered on Jul 10, 2023
Argghh! The leaky toilet seal case. Toilets sit on a "Wax ring" that seal the flow between the toilet and the sewer pipe. if it becomes dislodged or there is some other problem, there will be a leak into the floor that you don't always see, it goes into the floor under the ring. If... View More
We had a year lease he left on the 11th month. And is not longer on any utilities or lease.
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answered on Jul 4, 2023
Provide them with a reasonable opportunity to collect their items. You can inform them of the situation and establish a deadline for retrieval. If they do not respond or retrieve their belongings within the specified time, you may consider disposing of the items following the appropriate legal... View More
I recently moved into an Essex apartment in Seattle, Washington; the door has a SmartRent Device electronic lock which has a keyhole, but I have been given no key, and it is management policy not to give anyone keys except to fulfill disability accommodations.
RCW 59.18.060 includes the... View More
answered on Jun 26, 2023
I am not aware of any caselaw answering the question directly. The statute likely predates the prevalence of electronic locks and codes, but it certainly raises issues if they only give you a code and not a physical key. If the power goes out/battery dies/tech malfunctions, etc. Not to mention it... View More
My lease states after 2 returned bank items a cashiers check or money order will be required. Before I signed my lease I had 2 application fees fail because I used a credit card. I found out after that you couldn’t use a credit card on their system. I’ve had only 1 returned bank item since... View More
answered on May 4, 2023
RCW 59.18.063 requires that a landlord accept a personal check, cashier's check, or money order. Except that they do not have to accept a personal check if one has been returned NSF in the last 9 months.
https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.063
So, under the... View More
Hello, we live in Washington state. We are currently leasing a home and our lease ends July 31 of this year. Our landlord is requesting that we renew or lease in two days otherwise he will begin looking for other tenants. We are trying to determine if purchasing a home would be a better option but... View More
answered on Apr 26, 2023
Unless your rental is in a jurisdiction with its own set of rental protections, RCW 59.18.650 is the statute that likely answers your question. The answer is going to depend on the type of lease you have and the language used in the lease.
If your initial lease is what expires on July 31,... View More
I'm the power of attorney for my dad but my mom keeps putting protection orders against me so I'll stop me from seeing my dad and I need legal advice about me being a power of attorney and what can I do my mom's trying to sell his house and put him in a home and he wants to die in... View More
answered on Apr 7, 2023
The Washington State Bar Association provides the following resources for pro bono and low-cost legal assistance for its indigent population:
https://www.wsba.org/for-the-public/find-legal-help
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
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
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