My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Washington.
I answered a Craigslist offering an apartment to be sublet for one month. The tenants had only one month left on their lease, but had to leave the country for professional reasons. I gave them the money requested, and they gave me the keys. I was told that the landlord had already spoken to them about reverting to a month-to-month lease if they plan to stay. I was assured that the landlord was amenable to allowing me to take over the apartment, on the month to month lease. I have since learned that this was not discussed at all with the landlord. I have been here for almost the full month already. The lease is up at the end of January.
I have been here by myself with my pets and my belongings, since just before the first of the year. I would really rather not move. Unfortunately I am confidence that I would feel any credit check or other screening process miserably owing to bad credit and no recent job history except for my self-employment.. I do expect to have a job by the end of this month working for a company I have worked for in the past.
My question is, what are my rights? Also I would like some advice about how and when to approach the landlord with a proposal specifically, to allow me to stay here and continue paying rent and in lieu of a deposit I will replace the blinds which are all very damaged, shampoo the carpet or, alternately, remove it and replace it with laminate flooring, repair or replace the kitchen cabinets which are in terrible condition, paint the entire place, etcetera

