Apartment Management's Mistake
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Washington state
I need some advice for the apartment management’s mistake. I signed a lease on 20th Aug 2010 with a move-in date of 23rd Sept 2010. When we signed a lease for the apartment A106 (A is the block), we did not see the apartment physically before signing the lease because the apartment was not available (it was occupied and after that it was being renovated.). They just showed us the apartment on the Map. (I still have the map with me). They took $400 deposit.
On the date of move-in we saw the apartment A106 was located at a different place than what was shown to us on the map. When we saw the Map again we found out they misprinted (Map shows two blocks with the same name – A and the one which they showed us on the map was actually G). So we decided to move out on the first day (before moving-in) as the location was not next to the fountain. They had the 30 day guarantee program.
Now they are not giving back the $400 deposit saying it was non-refundable. I was happy to move out and forget the $400 but when they said it was your fault that you did not read the map properly and signed the lease, I felt as if I was being cheated. They were really rude. I know it was my mistake too but on the map it is clearly misprinted and I still have the original map with me.
What should I do? Should I forget $400 and the rude & fraud management or should I file a case against them? (The worst thing is they still have their misprinted map on their desk). No idea how many other people were fooled like us.
Please let me know.
Re: Apartment Management's Mistake
Did you sign anything other than the lease in relation to the deposit you paid? If so, what does it say? In terms of the lease, what does it say in relation to the cancellation and their right to keep a deposit?
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Quoting
joshmchen
I know it was my mistake too but on the map it is clearly misprinted and I still have the original map with me.
Why do you say it was your mistake? You said "They just showed us the apartment on the Map" - are you saying they showed you the correct apartment on the map, but you were nonetheless confused by the mistake on the map?