Do I have some sort of right as a tenant to get clarification of my lease after I’ve signed it?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Do I have some sort of right as a tenant to get clarification of my lease after I’ve signed it?
I’m having noise issues with the tenants downstairs, and after asking my property manager to interpret the noise section of the lease, she basically blew me off and is refusing to answer my question. Is this legal?
Asked on October 20, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
One party to any contract--and that's what a lease is; a contract between landlord and tenant--is never under any legal obligation to interpret the contract for the other party or to answer any questions about it. If you are having difficulty understanding what the lease means and your rights under it, you need to bring it to an attorney to review--that's what lawyers do, after all: provide legal advice. The lawyer can also advise you of any other rights or options you have: it's possible the other tenant(s) are disturbing your right to quiet enjoyment, and that the landlord would have to respond on that basis; they may be violating local noice ordinances; etc. While it's not certain that you have recourse, there are several legal theories that *could* potentially provide you a basis for action.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.