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Alecka · Sep 29, 2011, 08:37 PM

Hello. This is a California residential lease question.

I have lived in the building for 2 years and have had 3 lease renewals. In the last 1.5 years, I have asked the landlord to have the large, exterior, floor-to-ceiling windows cleaned. I consider the view a part of the "premium" I pay for my unit. For the last 1.5 years, I have received lip-service and excuses from the landlord. The windows are still filthy.

In our oral and written discussions about renewing my lease, beginning October 1st, I told them I'd be happy to sign another lease as soon as the windows are cleaned. We are near October 1 and... The windows are still filthy.

The landlord left the lease at my doorstep the other day. The lease they gave me to sign is already signed by them.

I made changes to the lease to reflect what I discussed with the landlord -- reducing the lease from 1 year to 6 months, giving me the right, at my election, to either (a) terminate the lease with 30 days written notice or (b) reduce the rent by 25% if the windows are not cleaned in the next 60 days. I signed the lease with these changes and returned it to the landlord.

The landlord called me -- furious that I made changes.

Question: Is my lease valid if both the landlord and I signed it, even if I made changes?

Thanks!

The

Fr_Chuck · Sep 29, 2011, 08:47 PM

No, your lease is not valid, the landlord will have to initial the changes and accept them,

The Landlord has made a offer, you refused and did a counter offer, the landlord can refuse and merely ask you to move.

Also I have never heard of a landlord having to clean a window, is this on a high floor building.

Alecka · Sep 29, 2011, 09:01 PM

Thank you for your reply. Yes, this is a high floor building. I can not clean them myself, and have asked for 1.5 years of the 2 years I've lived here.

Alecka · Sep 29, 2011, 09:03 PM

Thanks for your reply. That's too bad. Don't mean to squabble with them over this. Just to make them do what they say they will do. Yes, this is a high floor building. I'd be happy to do it myself if I could.

If they ask me to leave, is there a time they must provide in California law, like 30 days? Thanks again!

ScottGem · Sep 30, 2011, 03:34 AM

If you don't sign the lease you become a month to month tenant. Either of you can terminate the tenancy with 30 days notice.

I have to wonder though, most high rise buildings have a window cleaning service. So are your neighbor's windows being cleaned or not? Are you the only tenant with this complaint?

LisaB4657 · Sep 30, 2011, 05:27 AM

Since this is California and you've lived there for more than one year, if they want to terminate the lease they have to give you 60 days written notice.

Alecka · Sep 30, 2011, 07:53 AM

Thanks again for the replies! This building is a bit odd-shpaed. There are four units like mine (including mine), with floor-to-ceiling 10-feet tall glass windows, and a 1.5-foot ledge. Impossible to clean (from the third floor) without breaking your neck. They will need to find someone with a "scissor-lift" who can raise to the height tall enough to clean them. They have said they will (for 1.5 years), but it's too expensive for only 4 units. So now we have this problem where I pay for a view I can't see through because the LA smog has covered the windows with a greyish-black grime (disgusting).

Thanks again!

ScottGem · Sep 30, 2011, 09:25 AM

OK, What I would do is price out the cost of hiring a window cleaner. Get a few bids. Then talk to the owners of the other units. You all present your findings to landlord and advise them that if they don't contract with a cleaner that you 4 will do so and deduct the cost from your rents.

Send a letter signed by all of you, to the landlord by certified mail. Given then 2 weeks to sign a contract.