[perryw]

I live in Washington State. I moved in with a woman and her family at thr end of last November. I have since transferred all of the utilities into my name and began paying all of the bills including the full amount of the rent. Her 1-yr lease expired in February at which time the landlord asked her to sign a new 1 -yr lease. Because I wasn't sure if I would be staying with her for that long, I told her that she is welcome to re-sign her lease for a year but I could't commit for that long. She and the landlord said nothing further.

At the beginning of June, I decided to end my relationship with this woman and informed her that I was going to move out sometime before the end of June. I paid the rent until June 30th and put earnest money down on a house I am purchasing. In the middle of June, she began moving her things out of the home. She told me she was going to move her things out until I was moved out. The landlord was there that day and I asked him what I needed to do with respect to moving out/final walk-thru. I felt that she was trying to stick me with paying out of pocket for any damages/cleaning/painting, etc. I told him if that was the case, I would move my things out too and we can both do the walk-thru. He said that She would be responsible for it since she was the person listed on the original lease. He said I just need to move out by the 30th.

On the 30th, the landlord came by and asked me when we could schedule the final walk-thru. I reminded him of our conversation and he said that since I was paying month to month, even without a lease, I am responsible. He completely changed our agreement. I asked him if I would get back the original (her) security deposit if I did all the work. He said that there is no deposit. I suspect there is and that he is trying to have me pay for everything and give her full deposit back to her.

What am I legally responsible for? What is She legally responsible for? Thank you.

[Fr_Chuck]

The other persons lease ended in Feb. So there is no lease, who ever is paying the rent is now on a month to month verbal rental. So if you were paying the rent, from your bank to the landlord direct, then yes it is very possible they can find you liable.

What happens is they will have to sue you, and if the judge believes you were the tenant, because you were paying the rent, yes you can be held liable.

[excon]

Hello perry:

She is responsible to the landlord and you are responsible to her. If the landlord sues somebody, it's going to be her. If she loses and sues somebody, it's going to be you.

Ultimately you are a tenant. As such, you are responsible to YOUR landlord, which is your roomy, and she is responsible to hers. This is pursuant to your states landlord tenant law.

excon

[ScottGem]

This is an iffy situation. Assuming she never signed the lease renewal, tenantship became month to month. If the LL can prove that you have been making the rental payments, its very possible you will be held responsible at least partially for any cleanup necessary.