Full question:
I live in a rented apartment in Washington. The apartment has plumbing issues and due to the leaky pipes the place is infested with mould. I have informed my landlord about the situation but he has not done anything to rectify it. What can I do in the circumstances?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Repairs
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
As a tenant, your landlord is responsible for maintaining the apartment in a habitable condition. If there are plumbing issues causing mould, you should send a written notice to your landlord, specifying the problems. If the landlord does not address the issues within a reasonable time, you have several options:
(1) You can terminate the rental agreement and leave the apartment, providing written notice to the landlord. In this case, you won’t owe any rent for the period after you leave, and you can request a refund for any prepaid rent.
(2) You can file a lawsuit against the landlord for failing to remedy the situation.
(3) You may pursue other remedies available under Washington law.
According to Washington law (RCW 59.18.090), if the landlord does not act after receiving your written notice, they must respond within specific time frames, depending on the severity of the issue:
- Within twenty-four hours for issues that threaten health or safety.
- Within seventy-two hours for loss of essential services like heat or plumbing.
- Within ten days for other issues.
If the landlord fails to comply, they are responsible for completing the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
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.