I need advice on terminating my lease due to domestic violence abuse

[erinmichael]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington

Yesterday morning my boyfriend of 5 months, roommate of 2 months, physcially assaulted me leaving multiple bruises. After I threatened to call the police he disconnected my phone line (we share a plan). He also disconnected my access to the internet so I could not contact anyone. I have filed a case report with the police, and last night had keep the peace officers escort me to our shared apartment (we share the lease equally) so I could remove my cats and the heirlooms I inherited from my mother. I also removed my files containing my personal and financial information.

I spoke with our apartment manager a few days ago as I was becoming increasingly concerned for my safety. My boyfriend/roommate has become increasingly verbally abusive: Nothing I say, or don't say, anything I do or don't do come under fire. I asked if there was a way I could rollover my portion of the lease into a studio for just myself and my cats and we chatted about price points on available units. I mentioned that I hoped I wouldn't have to move but that my boyfriend had made numerous threats in the last month during arguments that he was going to evict me, but I would be responsible for the remainder of my portion of the lease up until termination.

After the altercation yesterday morning, before I left for work and to discuss the events with and get advice from my friend, I wrote a note to my apartment manager and slipped it under her door writing that I felt unsafe and wished to speak with her about it today.

There has been a history of borderline paranoia with him - I'd love to disclose details but understand the terms of agreement posted by this format to not mention anything that could be construed as defamation and or insults. I do believe he has an anger management problem and I have become increasingly less comfortable with the verbal abuse and threats. I do not feel safe: He has threatened to throw my cats out our 4th-story apartment building if he finds they relieved themselves on any of his possessions; the problem is he also owns two cats and a dog and how to prove mine versus his - if it ever happened - were responsible baffles me. He also has my phone on GPS so he can see wherever I am at any time; however the GPS does not seem to always be accurate. If I do not answer text messages in a timely manner (timely for him) - for instance I may be at work and am not allowed to carry a cell phone on me on the floor - he becomes increasingly angry and each successive message becomes more biting. He claims he calls my work after leaving me countless voicemails and texts and doesn't realize that we have an off-site messaging service after closing; no one there knows if I am at work though I often carry late hours as my responsibilities require. He prohibits me from spending time with my friends, refusing to join me, and then argues with me about it after I return home...arguments that often escalate into insults and extremely nasty expletives directed towards myself, coupled with threats. He also carries a concealed weapons permit and has at least a couple of handguns within easy access in our apartment; the remaining numerous rifles and guns are in a safe - to which I do not have the combination - but not inaccessible to him. As a result, with the combination of his erratic, angry, paranoid behaviour, his drinking habits, his past relationship issues, his verbal abuse and threats, and the fact that guns are around the house, climaxing in a physical altercation yesterday morning, leave me feeling incredibly unsafe.

I have read aspects of the law here in Washington State and understand that I first must attempt to receive an Order of Protection if my landlord refuses me to get off the lease; what happens if the landlord is unavailable and or does not respond quickly? I have not personally met the landlord, so would giving the Order of Protection to the apartment manager suffice?

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated...What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[Proserpina]

Read this if you haven't already:

[url]http://www.wscadv.org/docs/HousingHelpProtections.pdf[/url]

These are the basic landlord/tenant laws in WA:

[url]http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/pamphlets/landlord-tenant.htm[/url]

Though this refers mainly to King County the information may still help even if you're not in that county:

[url]http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=8232&state_code=WA[/url]

[erinmichael]

Thank you very much. I have secured a temporary protection order, am staying on a friend's couch for the time being, and have a court date in 2 weeks.
I am wondering though what to do about my lease yet; I've heard I can just get out of there with my belongings and not have to worry about paying a penalty. I am very, very, worried about going over there just with friends to do a mass packing job; I will need keep-the-peace officers each time so that will mean multiple trips. My apartment manager yesterday said I would be responsible for a full month's rent in penalty...she said the terms of the 12-month lease, including this month's "free" rent, were contingent upon fulfilling the lease. What she doesn't get is how freaked out I am about my boyfriend causing me harm when I try to remove my things, causing harm to my things in the process, and/or causing me harm again in the future. I don't think I should be penalized because the other person who did this to me gets to stay on the lease, find a roommate, and get virtually a full month's rent paid through me.

[Proserpina]

Originally Posted by erinmichael

Thank you very much. I have secured a temporary protection order, am staying on a friend's couch for the time being, and have a court date in 2 weeks.
I am wondering though what to do about my lease yet; I've heard I can just get out of there with my belongings and not have to worry about paying a penalty. I am very, very, worried about going over there just with friends to do a mass packing job; I will need keep-the-peace officers each time so that will mean multiple trips. My apartment manager yesterday said I would be responsible for a full month's rent in penalty...she said the terms of the 12-month lease, including this month's "free" rent, were contingent upon fulfilling the lease. What she doesn't get is how freaked out I am about my boyfriend causing me harm when I try to remove my things, causing harm to my things in the process, and/or causing me harm again in the future. I don't think I should be penalized because the other person who did this to me gets to stay on the lease, find a roommate, and get virtually a full month's rent paid through me.

I understand what you're saying - but quite honestly if it were me I'd pay the one month's rent and just be out of there. Be sure to read the information in those links though, and maybe print out the relevant information to show your apartment manager.

[erinmichael]

Thanks for your help; I read through the materials and they looked to be in my favor but this is what has happened since my last post:

The court date was today (for a more permanent protection order) and the respondant was not present, only his attorney, asking for a continuance. My protection order was continued. However, the landlord approached me outside the courtroom and gave me a notice saying that I had to pay a full month's rent including a late fee of $30 totalling to $1355 by November 5th. She wrote that "no notice given in writing" even though I gave the apartment manager a notice on October 20th along with a copy of the protection order that I would fulfill my portion of the rents due for November (1/2 a month's rent) and that I would vacate the premises by the end of the month. I have been staying at a friend's since October 18th but 99% of my belongings are still in the apartment. She also asked me for my forwarding address and my social security number, both of which I refused to give to her.

The lease states that we had half a month free, which was October, if the lease was fulfilled for the 12-month term. As much as I want to stay there, my finances do not cover $1325 in rent a month; half that amount is in my budget. I spoke with people at the New Beginnings hotline in King County and they said that I still have to pay the full amount unless the landlord makes an agreement with me otherwise. I would love to approach the landlord and discuss but they have been friends and landlords/aparment managers to the perpetrator for the last four years...and are giving indication that they side with him.

I am at a loss on how to progress. I have an application in process for a new place into which I hope to move next week, which requires almost $1000 in rent and partial deposit before moving in. I am afraid of legal action by the landlords against myself but at the same time do not have all the money they require of me.