|
|
|
|
New Member
|
|
Sep 29, 2011, 08:37 PM
|
|
California lease law question?
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
|
|
|
Expert
|
|
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.
|
|
|
New Member
|
|
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.
|
|
|
New Member
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
|
|
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?
|
|
|
Expert
|
|
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.
|
|
|
New Member
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
|
|
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.
|
|
Question Tools |
Search this Question |
|
|
Add your answer here.
Check out some similar questions!
Family Law Question in California
[ 0 Answers ]
I am the Petitioner in what I thought was an uncontested divorce filed in November 2009. I moved out of the house on or around that same date. My ex and I are using the same attorney. I can tell that my ex is dragging her feet yet I have been assured by my ex and my attorney that all the...
TN eviciton/ejection law with no lease - mother-n-law
[ 5 Answers ]
I agreed to allow my monster-n-law to move in with us in September '07. We had a verbal agreement that she would stay downstairs in our "in-law suite/apartment" for four months. I told her that after four months if she was genuinely trying to find work and a place of her own she could stay longer. ...
California Home Lease Law
[ 2 Answers ]
I have a lease on a home in California. A month ago the hot water heater went out and started leaking. I notified the landlord first by phone and then in writing but nothing has been done to resolve the problem. I have not had hot water for a month and now mold is growing on the walls. I have...
California Law Question...
[ 11 Answers ]
We recently moved to California and rented a car from Enterprise. We thot we put on insurance but it was not "full coverage". We only found this out after an accident. We were told to check the credit card we used but they say they don't offer insurance anymore.
We wondered if we were in...
View more questions
Search
|