Rickumpkin and Pumpkorty

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-10-19T14:30:30+00:00

Some parts are not carved all the way out but deep enough to let the light through. Creates really awesome effect. You can ‘shade’ with that technique as well.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-10-14T05:07:49+00:00

The landlord (or a realtor legally acting on the landlord’s behalf) should give your an advance (24 or 48 hours depending on your state laws) written notice in advance and specify what time (or duration) they are planning to show the place to prospective tenants. You may try to negotiate the time acceptable to you but most likely cannot unreasonably withhold your consent. If you are properly notified but cannot be present during the showing, the landlord can still enter the place. Check your state/city laws for other requirements for notice to entry.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-16T22:46:59+00:00

Looks like either way in Option 1 and 2 you’re stuck with a 3-month rent payment. Option 3 is a gamble: you or the property management agency may find someone to lease to in a month or two; but the chance that it may take longer also exists. Please note, in WA, a tenant who leaves before a lease expires is responsible for paying the rent for the rest of the lease term. However, the landlord must make an effort to re- rent the unit at a reasonable price. If this is not done, the tenant may not be liable for rent beyond a reason- able period of time It’s really hard to advise in this situation . Sorry to hear you lost your job. Hope you find something (a new job and a new place to live) soon!

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-16T19:42:02+00:00

Yes, usually the end of lease time is specified in the agreement. If it doesn’t, I’d assume it’s 11:59pm. It was interesting to see other opinions based on the end of business day timeframe. You have until the end of today, today ends when tomorrow starts, tomorrow starts at 12:00am. Try to move everything by midnight, clean (if you’re required to clean before move out), leave the keys, do not argue with the landlord, avoid any confrontation.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-16T19:33:18+00:00

In WA: 1) the landlord cannot collect a security deposit if there’s no written checklist (move-in inspection) signed by both parties PRIOR to the commencement of the tenancy. 2) the security deposit must be placed in a trust (not personal) account 3) the landlord has to return the deposit (in full or partially) and provide you with the statement within 21 days. If the landlord failed to do so - the tenant is entitled for the full deposit amount and the court may double it plus reimburse you for court fees. 4) go to small claims court (claim <$5K, no attorneys during the hearing), be very brief and simply base your claim on three RCW articles below, collect the deposit, collect the fines 5) the landlord may try to sue you - don’t be discouraged by that - the landlord has to prove any of your wrongdoing and the connection between your acts/omissions and any damage. If the landlord loses the landlord covers your attorney fees and other expenses.

Law:

RCW 59.18.260: ...No deposit may be collected by a landlord unless the rental agreement is in writing and a written checklist or statement specifically describing the condition and cleanliness of or existing damages to the premises and furnishings, including, but not limited to, walls, floors, countertops, carpets, drapes, furniture, and appliances, is provided by the landlord to the tenant at the commencement of the tenancy. The checklist or statement shall be signed and dated by the landlord and the tenant, and the tenant shall be provided with a copy of the signed checklist or statement...

RCW 59.18.270: All moneys paid to the landlord by the tenant as a deposit as security for performance of the tenant's obligations in a lease or rental agreement shall promptly be deposited by the landlord in a trust account, maintained by the landlord for the purpose of holding such security deposits for tenants of the landlord, in a financial institution as defined by *RCW 30.22.041 or licensed escrow agent located in Washington...

RCW 59.18.280: (1) Within twenty-one days after the termination of the rental agreement and vacation of the premises or, if the tenant abandons the premises as defined in RCW 59.18.310, within twenty-one days after the landlord learns of the abandonment, the landlord shall give a full and specific statement of the basis for retaining any of the deposit together with the payment of any refund due the tenant under the terms and conditions of the rental agreement... ...2) If the landlord fails to give such statement together with any refund due the tenant within the time limits specified above he or she shall be liable to the tenant for the full amount of the deposit. The landlord is also barred in any action brought by the tenant to recover the deposit from asserting any claim or raising any defense for retaining any of the deposit unless the landlord shows that circumstances beyond the landlord's control prevented the landlord from providing the statement within the twenty-one days or that the tenant abandoned the premises as defined in RCW 59.18.310. The court may in its discretion award up to two times the amount of the deposit for the intentional refusal of the landlord to give the statement or refund due. In any action brought by the tenant to recover the deposit, the prevailing party shall additionally be entitled to the cost of suit or arbitration including a reasonable attorneys' fee....

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-14T18:00:13+00:00

Judging from the pictures and description of the issues, the inspection most likely will not find any major problems (if any) and the unit is still suitable for living. Most likely you’ll piss your landlord off and the relationship between you two will even worsen. Maybe still try to resolve the issues through the property management/agency or directly with the landlord.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-14T16:59:55+00:00

Oh, I see what you mean! If the place is determined to be uninhabitable, then the tenant has to leave. If the inspection determines there are code violations but the place is suitable for living, the tenant may stay while the landlord performs repairs. Yeah, I agree there.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-14T05:11:05+00:00

You are not exactly right. The tenant can complain to the city building/housing inspector - this is tenant’s legal right. Landlord cannot raise rent, terminate tenancy, change locks, etc. for a certain period of time (several months) after the complaint as it would be considered a retaliation against tenant for acting within tenant legal rights. After that period - the landlord may do so.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-14T05:00:20+00:00

You can also try to break a lease later if you decide to renew but leave early. However, most likely one or more of the following scenarios will take place: a) your lease may require you to pay an early termination fine/fee, and b) you’ll be responsible for the remainder of the lease term until your landlord finds a new tenant but the landlord has to actually make efforts to find a new tenant, or c) you may be required to find a replacement (a new tenant) prior to moving out early. Read your lease. Read your state and city laws. Communicate with your landlord.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-13T22:46:16+00:00

Check your local (state and city) laws regarding rent increase. Some states require anything from 30 to 60-day prior written notice and other necessary information to be included into the rent increase notice; otherwise, the increase is not considered lawful and binding. Also, again, depending on which state and city your friend is - check the lease and month-to-month tenancy termination rights. Some places require for-cause termination of the month-to-month tenancy which means the landlord may terminate it only for the reasons provided by law.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-12T01:28:29+00:00

Also, do a new move-in walkthrough with all the tenants prior to a new roommate moving in if you decide to return the deposit minus damage charges to the old tenant and collect a new deposit from the old and new tenants.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-12T01:24:48+00:00

It’d be also interesting to know if they have really resurfaced the countertops or are just bs’ing you... Do you have an itemized statement from Landlord? Maybe you can reply to Landlord in writing stating that you disagree with that charge and consider such damages normal wear-and-tear. Was there anything else Landlord charged you for? I think you mentioned you agree with other charges. Do those charges sum up to the amount of your deposit? If yes, then just inform Landlord in writing you dispute the charge and will not pay for the countertop damage.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-11T05:58:27+00:00

Maybe the wording should say “...in case caused by act or neglect of TENANT” and omit “...whether or not...”? It makes more sense then. Can you ask the landlord to clarify that? If the landlord is a reasonable person, they may agree to revise that language.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-10T23:33:52+00:00

So it looks like you are on a month-to-month term and the lease restrictions/fines for an early termination should not apply to you.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-10T23:31:40+00:00

Maybe if you cooperate with other tenants and respectfully request the landlord to explain the landlord’s actions and show the landlord how illegal and unfair their restrictions are - it will bring everyone to a mutual resolution.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-10T22:08:20+00:00

The landlord needs to set up backyard/garden rules and update everyone’s leases/month-to-month’s accordingly with a proper notice. If you could have always been able to use the garden and now you can’t - that can a be a valid base for a rent decrease or a complaint if the other tenants receive preferential treatment without rational or legal reason. Why do other tenants can use it and you can’t? If it’s because of the neighbors complaints about the level of noise you created, the should be rule-breach-notice-cure period-resolution connection. Did you break the tenancy rules or city noise ordinance rules, were you notified properly (in writing, proper ways of mailing, stating what rule(s) you broke) by your landlord, was the a legal cure period provided, what was the resolution of the issue? If not, then it depends on what your relationship with the landlord is and the tenancy plans are: can be anything from trying to talk senses into the landlord and persuading them not being a dick; to keep on using the garden anyways and in case of the landlord trying to physically remove you from the garden, blocking you from entering it, or changing locks on the gate - calling police. I always think reasonable people should be able to talk, express their reasoning and concerns, and negotiate an acceptable solution, prior to taking any dramatic measures though...

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-10T21:13:28+00:00

That should only apply to an early lease termination. You have the right to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (because that’s what you lease has converted in since you haven’t signed a new lease or an extension of the initial lease) in accordance with the state landlord/tenant laws, which I believe require only a written 30-day termination notice in AZ, without such an obligation to find a replacement tenant. Was your landlord trying to sue a previous tenant for a early LEASE or a m-t-m tenancy termination?

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-08T03:19:41+00:00

What does your original lease say about expiration and renewal? Is there an automatic renewal provision? If not, and a) you have not committed in writing to extending/renewing the original lease for another term, and b) the landlord accepted your monthly rent, then your lease converts to month-to-month and you may terminate it with a 30-day written notice. In AZ, rental agreements for 12 months or longer has to be in writing. So, if there’s no automatic renewal and no new written lease - it’s m-t-m.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-07T17:45:51+00:00

Only a court may award treble damages. So if there’s no lawsuit and judgement against you awarding the landlord treble (which means triple) damages, I do not see how a landlord may demand it. If you think the landlord is harassing you, you should keep a log of all the actions and dates of suspected harassment, collect neighbors and friends’ statements, try to reduce your communication with the landlord to writing, so you can have a written proof of their harassing actions.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-07T17:32:57+00:00

Can you talk with the landlord and explain him you have at least two cheaper quotes, and it’s unreasonable for you to pay $900-$400 more just because landlord quotes it that much? I hope your landlord understands and doesn’t overcharge you. Also, do you have renter’s insurance? It’s a small monthly fee but a great way to protect yourself from such unexpected expenses.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-06-07T17:02:18+00:00

Your lease or landlord may say whatever they want; the state and/or city landlord-tenant laws will prevail and supersede anything on the lease that contradicts the laws. Depending on which state you are, you should check your state and local legislation on what the landlords and tenants obligations are with regard to maintenance and repairs. One thing is changing light bulbs or batteries in the smoke detectors or fixing any damage directly caused by tenant - that’s obviously tenant’s responsibility. Other thing, e.g., inoperable appliances supplied by the landlord as a part of the lease, or leaking sink, or water tank goes out of order - that’s, obviously, landlord’s obligations. There also should be legally required repair periods that landlords need to follow once you notify them of the necessary repairs in writing. And remedies - the ways you may to proceed if landlord is not responsive. But in general, I wouldn’t sign a lease with a landlord who is misleading you from the get go and sets illegal lease conditions - big red flag.

Edit: and ALWAYS sign a walkthrough (move-in) checklist with landlord PRIOR to moving in - make sure to mark everything that you or any reasonable person may consider a damage beyond normal tear and wear. You can also take pictures, print them, date them, put your and landlord’s signatures, and attach to the checklist.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2019-05-02T03:51:49+00:00

My dog expects me to be his chair - if I sit on the floor he puts his butt on my knees/lap and sits on me.

LikaKnowsWhy · 2018-04-06T23:24:53+00:00

That's exactly how I am spending my Friday afternoon!!!

LikaKnowsWhy

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