It seems I am in a crazy situation! I live in Seattle WA at a single family home. I have a rental agreement for like 20 months. I am at month number 7 of the contract. Owner lives in China and her representative is in Seattle WA. She has a real estate agent to represent her.
I had a maintenance issue and the landlord started complaining that she will not pay any maintenance. Then next day asked through her representative for us to leave the house and break the lease and that she is not asking for a termination fee. We refused.
Today come back through her representative and said that she has a serious illness. She is not feeling ok and that she needs us to leave the house as she wants to leave here. She offered the two months lease fee as reimbursement and 60 days notice. But she didn’t exactly enforced the addendum of the lease but said through her representative that we can choose this option.
I am really shocked and sad right now. I have a young toddler and my wife is 4 months pregnant and I don’t her to be stressed. Also it is super difficult for a pregnant woman to move out and have a nice house. This thing is inhumane :(
I read online and there is this WA new law that protects tenants:
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1236-S.E%20HBR%20PL%2021.pdf
In a nutshell, law says that landlord cannot enforce such an addendum term if landlord doesn’t have a true reason to move in the house. Also they need to provide a 90 days notice.
It is a crazy situation right now. Does anyone have a good attorney to recommend? I guess any help is important here.
Edit: When we agreed that if she pays the two months rent fee we will leave the house BUT she needs to send us a written notice, she is in radio silence. She is not enforcing anything. Just waiting to see what is next here
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comments
It doesn't make sense that she needs the home if she lives on China. She probably just wants to cash out before the housing market turns down. If it was me, I would try and find another rental and negotiate with her to cover your moving expenses.
China-based buyers ran up the Vancouver market to the extent there is now a foreign buyer tax there. Seattle needs to do the same thing.
Look for lawyer recommendations from Avvo.com or check with your aarg Lawyer.
While you deal with that, think about what if scenarios..
You have 13 months on your contract and at that time, you will have 2 kids with the youngest one being 6-7 months old. Think about the situation in June 2023 and try to plan on what's better like rents increases during summer in Seattle, moving with a pregnant wife in the second trimester would be easier than later with the kid?
Your landlord wants to sell the place before the bubble pops, hence the refund to you.
Negotiate 6 months rent refund and 2 months of rent free stay.
This is like new home owners paying 2 months rent to break their lease