Avatar_default
Reputation: 5

Can I be evicted for a couple infractions?

There was an episode where someone called an ambulance for me (a seizure, long story) and my apartment manager filed a complaint for the noise. Then another where I evidently screamed in my sleep (so embarrassing, I know.). Now, last thursday, an ex-coworker and her boyfriend stopped by my apartment, drunk, and I called them up in order to call for a taxi, so they wouldn't drive drunk. It was very late (2:30 or so), and I urged them to quiet down, since I was in so much trouble, but they just wouldn't. Before the taxi came, my manager pounded on my door, and now (2 days later) they're threatening me with eviction. I've been in this apartment for 17 years! I'm a very quiet and courteous dude.

I was recently laid-off from my job, and don't think other managers would take me. What should I do?

4 Answers

  • Bike-scope_small
    Reputation: 1884

    1) What does your lease say about noises, etc.?

    2) Have you asked the manager (or landlord) to sit down with you so that you can explain the recent situations? Perhaps he's just trying to scare you into quietness by threatening eviction.

    3) The Tenants Union of Washington State has some decent if generic info, but their site is currently returning "Database unavailable." for all pages. You might try calling them for issues not addressed on their site, although (as least in the past) it was nearly impossible to reach them via phone.
    http://tenantsunion.org

    4) Awhile back I was able to get this apartment even though I was getting unemployment insurance (and possibly I had a temp job at the time). In this current situation I think many landlords realize that some tenants are between jobs. Is your credit rating really good? Do you have good references? Those types of items will probably hold a lot of weight.

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Min-wage_small
    Reputation: 1421

    First, read this:
    www.seattle.gov/dclu/publications/cam/infofortenants.pdf

    It's a summary of your rights as a tenant. It's possible they could try to evict you because you're being a nuisance and disturbing your neighbors, but they would have to give you a notice in writing. If they do, I think you would need to go to court to fight it - this is the sucky thing about landlord/tenant disputes; if a landlord pulls something shitty (like withholding deposit money) it's up to the tenant to fight it.

    You should also call the Tenant's Union: 206-723-0500. Sadly they've had a lot of budget cuts so I don't know what hours the hotline is open.

    Any apt manager who files a noise complaint for an ambulance visit is a total douche. You might also want to try to contact the owner of the apt building to explain your side. Good luck!

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Sittin_pretty_small
    Reputation: 9

    Not a lawyer, and this is just my opinion, but unless there is some Draconian thing in your lease that requires "quiet hours" then they don't have any grounds for eviction.

    We don't have the best tenant protection laws in Washington but we do have some good ones. If the police have never been called, there-by there isn't any legal record of your manager's complaints, they don't have any grounds for eviction as long as you're up to date with your rent.

    Which isn't to say that you might not end up having to fight it in court.

    I'd like to add my vote that you contact the Tenants union as well as reading what's on-line. Contacting the owner of the building might work for you...but depending on who they are it could work against you as well. If the building is managed by a larger firm like Phillips Real Estate you're probably safer legally and it'd be worth taking it up with the manager's boss. If there isn't some sort of corporate oversight to rein in one douche manager...things might be messier.

    But they are required to serve you with papers and have legal and documented cause and until they do so you just get to be aware that your manager has it out for you...which in and of itself might make moving worthwhile.

    Good luck!

    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Photo_on_2012-01-03_at_17
    Reputation: 628

    I know I shouldn't say anything, because it might needlessly worry you, but I am compelled to comment. Take mine with a grain of salt, because I was in Oregon and not Washington. Maybe tenants have more rights in WA. I sure hope so. I literally got squeezed out/evicted from an apartment based on lies told by a downstairs neighbor. For example, one time I accidentally dropped something on the floor and he complained and they were like "well, you should have prevented that accident from happening!" I said "do you know the definition of the word 'accident'?!?!"

    It was so much stress that I took to driving around so that I was never at my apartment, but then they kept saying I was making too much noise! INSANE!

    I agree that any person who cites you for too much noise for an ambulance call is a total douche! It also sounds like the other stuff is complete B.S.

    All the hope I can offer you is that when I got kicked out it turned out to be an eventual blessing and not a curse. I would normally say fight like hell because this sort of thing is totally wrong, but I'm not sure of the legalities and how much trouble and stress it would cause you.

    If you are a good tenant, and you sound like you are, I'm fairly sure you can find the right living situation. Maybe you could do some kind of shared housing situation instead of an apartment thing. (Not sure if you'd like that as I don't know you.) The unemployment thing is a problem when going to look for housing of course, but I think it can be dealt with.

    I know this sounds like shit advice, but I would suggest taking the time to look for another apartment/living situation if you are not under the gun right now. Landlords/apt. managers can be real assholes sometimes and the bad ones weasel their way through the laws quite effectively.

    Share this answer with a friend: