Landlord Harassment Washington State

Summary

Patricia, a tenant in Washington, is dealing with harassment from her landlord and his son. Shes also facing unaddressed maintenance issues, including black mold and a broken hot water tank. The landlord has been charging late fees before the grace period and has increased the rent without providing a new lease. Patricia has been advised to document all incidents and report them to local authorities. She can also contact the Washington State Attorney Generals Office for tenant rights issues and seek legal aid from the Northwest Justice Project.

Full Conversation

Well I had some questions one on multiple occasions my landlord has sent me emails on the 3rd of the month harassing me telling me that rent is not paid therefore I owe $* late fee but there is a law in set that protects tenants like me from landlords like that correct also does a landlord have a right to allow his son to come and sit in front of my house for hours just stocking us is how it feels
What state are you currently residing in, ****? This will help me provide accurate information regarding tenant rights and laws in your specific location.
Washington
What is the exact date you usually pay your rent?

In Washington, landlords must provide a grace period of at least 4 days before charging a late fee.
No later than the third
In Washington, landlords can't charge a late fee until rent is 4 days late. If you're paying by the 3rd, you shouldn't be charged. For stalking, consider reporting to local authorities.
Does the landlord have a right to have his son sit out in front of my house for two and a half to three hours also down the street just staring at my property
What actions, if any, have you taken so far regarding your landlord's son's behavior? In general, stalking is illegal and you may consider reporting it to the police.
I have made it very clear in the past to my landlord his son is very rude and considerate I do not feel safe around him and I do not want him on my property he is not my landlord his father is
Have you documented these incidents and reported them to the local authorities? In Washington, stalking is a serious crime and can result in restraining orders or criminal charges.
Didn't know what actions I can take without being retaliated on because he is already retaliating on the little old lady behind me for asking for up-to-date codes for new lease
Have you considered seeking a restraining order against the landlord's son? In Washington, you can apply for a protection order if you feel threatened or harassed.
Also trying to get us to sign a piece of paper that says he knew nothing about black mold in the units and he did know everything about it refuses to fix anything just keeps making rent go up
What actions have you taken regarding the black mold issue in your unit? In Washington, landlords are required to maintain habitable premises, which includes addressing mold issues.
I didn't know that I could do that when I tell the landlord about it he wants to argue and say his son is not rude he's not here the landlord lives in Seattle
Have you documented the presence of black mold and informed your landlord in writing? In Washington, landlords are legally required to address such issues.
Yes I have his solution for it is to buy a dehumidifier and put it in my home which I have a medical form that it cannot be in my house due to three of four of my kids get nosebleeds from it he tells me the mold is my problem not his
Have you considered reporting the mold issue to your local health department? In Washington, landlords are required to maintain habitable premises, which includes addressing mold issues.
My hot water tank has been out for over 2 years needs to be replaced he sends somebody in here that breaks my stuff but doesn't fix anything and then says that it's my responsibility to fix it and that we broke it when we didn't
What actions have you taken regarding the hot water tank issue? In Washington, landlords are required to provide hot water.
I don't have any idea of what legal stands I have on anything when I call to try to get legal help or health department they tell me that it is a landlord tenant issue
What is the name of your city in Washington? This will help me provide you with the contact details of the nearest court or legal aid service.
Spokane county
What is the name of your landlord and his son? This information will help in filing a complaint. In Washington, landlords are required to maintain habitable premises and respect tenant's privacy.
My landlord's first name is Romeo his son's first name is Marco give me a second and I will find the last name if you need it
What is the full name of your landlord and his son? This will help in filing a complaint.
Romeo Gamboa is my landlord and his son's name is Marco Gamboa
What is the exact address of the property you are renting from Romeo Gamboa?
* E Nore Ave Spokane WA *
What is the duration of your lease agreement with Romeo Gamboa?
I was on a year lease when I first moved in here Romeo bought the property and said that he would honor giving me another year lease which is what I asked for but when it came down to it he would only give me a month to month that's what I'm currently on now and have been here for 4 years going on five
What actions have you taken regarding the change in your lease agreement from a year lease to a month-to-month lease?
What can I do he tells me there's nothing I can do about it he is very rude and pushy towards women
Have you considered contacting a local tenant's rights organization or legal aid for assistance with your situation?
He likes to say one thing and make an agreement but then when it comes down to it he takes it back every time he is not a man of his word
What evidence do you have of these agreements and their subsequent breaches by your landlord?
Text messages emails and also verbal with witnesses every time never talk to him without somebody else present because they do not make me feel comfortable
What is the nature of the text messages and emails you have from your landlord? It's important to keep these as they can serve as evidence in a legal dispute.
Telling him things that need to be replaced mold that needs to be fixed lawn care that doesn't get done that is in my lease down to the fact that his son is rude disrespectful and needs to stay away from my unit
Have you sent these complaints to your landlord in writing and kept a copy for your records? In Washington, it's important to have written documentation of all communication with your landlord.
He sent me a text message at the end of this last month asking me to confirm that my July rent was paid and is that the deposit that he can see he knows that I paid my rent because when we pay it they take my ID with my address so my name is on the deposit along with the address of the property but still in sis on texting me for stupid crap
What actions have you taken regarding these text messages from your landlord?
I don't know any actions I can take it all on anything that's why I am reaching out to you
What is the condition of your current lease agreement? Do you have a written lease or is it verbal?
So he says month to month lease stays the same as two in it was a yearly nothing changes he doesn't provide a new lease he doesn't update codes
What is the exact date your month-to-month lease agreement started? In Washington, landlords must provide at least 30 days' notice before changing any terms of a month-to-month lease, including rent increases.
He just sends me increases on rent
We moved in here May 13th *
What is the exact date you received the notice for the rent increase?
The beginning of March
In Washington, landlords must provide at least 30 days' notice before increasing rent. Did you receive this notice at least 30 days before the increase was to take effect?
Yeah
In Washington, landlords must provide at least 30 days' notice before increasing rent. If you received the notice in March, it should not take effect until April.
What is legal actions that I can take against my landlord
Who can I contact in Washington
You can contact the Washington State Attorney General's Office for tenant rights issues. Their number is *-*-*-*. For legal aid, you can reach out to Northwest Justice Project at *-*-*-*.