Full question:
If I rented to a couple and I never signed the lease and only one who did is on the run from the police. The girlfriend and kid were left behind and has lots of family in the area. My question is since I never signed and returned a copy is this a binding contract, is she just trespassing and can I kick her out?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Lease Termination
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
Acceptance of a lease offer requires clear agreement to its terms. If a lease does not specify how it must be accepted, acceptance can occur in a reasonable manner. In many cases, if rent is accepted, it may be treated as acceptance of the lease, even without a signature.
In Washington, if a lease is not signed by the landlord, the tenant may still be considered a tenant-at-will. This means they have certain rights, and you cannot simply evict them without notice. You must provide a written notice to terminate the tenancy, typically requiring twenty days' notice before the lease can be ended (RCW 59.18.200).
Therefore, since you did not sign the lease, the situation may not be as straightforward as simply kicking her out. You should follow the proper legal procedures for eviction.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.