I live in Washington state, in order to rent an apartment anyone over the age of 18 has to sign the lease. My daughter signed the leased and has since angerly moved out. She refused to sign the movement form the apartment asked me to have sign in order to be removed from the lease. Meanwhile, the apartment complex was aware of the situation and their maintenance person allowed her into the garage I was renting (the rental agreement for the garages are in my name only) but since her name was on the lease for the apartment . So she robbed my belongs as well as taking hers. There is nothing I can do as long as her name is on the lease. What can I do can I evict her? I need to get her name of the lease otherwise the property management will allow her into the apartment and she can steal from me again. What can I do? Don't I have any rights? She's made no payments to the rent or utilities of these. Aren't there any laws that protects the other persons rights under the lease.

Hello deb:

The property manager can't let your daughter into your garage if you've told them not to. If they did, then SUE them for the lost items. Of course, they SAY they can do it. I SAY they can't.

excon

Originally Posted by debmcgregor
Thanks for the reply. It too late property management already let her in the garage, and she took about $2000 of my stuff. I have taken the day off to seek legal advise as to how to proceed. I have read the rental and there is no mention of the garage, just the apartment this my daughter is on. I have read the garage agreement and it states only my name as a resident of apt N204, no where in the garage rental agreement does it state and occupants of apt N204. I think I have them. But I am more concern about them letting her into the apartment and her stealing more of my possession. I don't have much but little I have I had worked very hard for. She has left her futon behind and I don't know to do with it. Hold it until my stuff is returned, keep as collateral until she pays me back for the loans and the damage that her cat and kittens have caused in the apt. (which is why she left angerly I told she had to get rid of them that they were her responsibility and I have not paid a pet deposit I can't afford to).

Once again thanks you gave me a glimmer of hope.

Hello again, deb:

It's too late to recover the stuff she already stole, but it's not too late to stop her from stealing more of your stuff.

Write the landlord a letter. Send it certified, return receipt requested. Hand deliver a copy TODAY. In it, INSTRUCT him NOT to let her into your premises. Tell him to change the locks TODAY, or you'll do it yourself and charge him for it. Tell him also, that you are filing suit against him for the lost items (the time for secrets is long past).

Then march right down to your local courthouse, and file a small claims lawsuit. It's cheap, quick and easy.

Your daughters stuff is hers. You can't throw it out, and you can't keep it in exchange for money that you think she owes you. If you wish, put her stuff in a public storage space. Pay the first month. Write her a letter. Tell her where her stuff is. If she doesn't get it, then it's NOT your responsibility.

excon

I have been advised to file a small claims form and an anti-harrassment order, request that I be able to remain at the apt and that she be exclude from the apt and the garages. I''m also to include the fact she had taken my personal belongs from the garage, and request that items be returned (I have already considered the items lost, and it is my penalty for learning) as well as listing the fact she left her futon. And that she can obtain this futon with a civil stand by. I have no intention of keeping anything of hers. It was agreed upon with the police that she should return today for her possessions in the garage, in which I would be able to video tape her removing her stuff (this would protect her as well as me if she should claim anything was left behind or damaged). (Unfortunately, my camcorder only works on electricity, so I was going to buy an adapter for the light socket). Unfortunately, in the state of Washington unless the roommate signs or writes a statement saying that they wanted to be removed from the lease the only recourse is an anti-harrassment order. It's a shame, though I love my daughter and have gone above and beyond for her, for things to end in this manner. It is also a shame there are really no laws in the state of Washington that protects roommates from each, it is also a shame that the rent cost here are so high that you virtually have to be a two income household, which I'm not (not even with her living here, she never paid a penny).

I am going to try to recope my loses through small claims court. I have estimated $1600. In damages to the apt that her cats caused. I really don't expect to get anything. But it is a lession to be learned by all.

Once again, thank you for words of encouragment. Hopefully, this episode will help someone else out in the future not to make the same mistake. I wish there was a way in Washington that One adult could be listed as the primary lease holder. And any other adults living in the apartment could be listed on an addendum. I have never had problem of being the one financially responsible for the rent, and utilities.
Maybe someday there might be a law until then life goes on.