If A Lease Is Signed By Only One Party, Is It Still Valid

[jcqlnnelson]

My husband signed papers for a lease on a house I have not signed it yet and the landlord is calling to have me finalize it by signing. I don't feel we can afford the home and don't want to sign. Are we bound to the lease if only one person signed? Does he have any rights to collect any money from us?

In Washington State

[aaron]

By signing the lease, assuming that the lease is not contingent upon both you and your husband signing, your husband bound himself to the lease.

[jcqlnnelson]

If the landlord has since found another tenant and the home wasn't going to be ready for us until August 10th does he still have grounds to come after us for anything. As far as I can see if he has somebody to rent it and there is no time without a tenant so we should not owe him anything but he claims to settle we must pay him half of his mortgage which is more than half a months rent.

[aaron]

You can decide if you want to settle the claim, or see if he sues. If he sues, you can point out to the court that he didn't suffer any damages and see what the court decides.