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JackInGreen

(2,975 posts)
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 09:12 AM Feb 2016

well, they finally got Jack...

For the longest time our landlord has been attempting to sell the property we live in, a duplex in Seattle. After months of silence, we finally heard his progress: In the form of an eviction notice from the new owner. He issued us three notices, for 'each resident' including our 15 year old son. He appeared unaware that the unit he intended to occupy currently housed a family with no intention of moving, and no inkling that a sale was eminent, let alone an eviction. I get his position, I loathe our landlord for selling it out from under us, and though I'm trying to maintain a pragmatic cheeriness, I'm not looking at a lot of hope with rental costs being what they are. We make about 3k a month, in part due to medical collections (yay, cancer history), subsequently our prospects aren't great, and my credit is less than stellar.
Not sure why I shared this here, I suppose looking for some kind of hope in my wee-hours darkness. Wish us luck, but I don't think I'm long for being able to post, let alone live with any kind of security.

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
well, they finally got Jack... (Original Post) JackInGreen Feb 2016 OP
Keep in touch with the site as you can. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2016 #1
Asses. tazkcmo Feb 2016 #2
so sorry--- I hope you find a reasonable place. Wish you the best of luck. Fast Walker 52 Feb 2016 #3
Good luck Jack. wilsonbooks Feb 2016 #4
+1 n/t Admiral Loinpresser Feb 2016 #5
sorry about that man tk2kewl Feb 2016 #6
Good luck! abelenkpe Feb 2016 #7
I live in Washington too angrychair Feb 2016 #8
Check your lease jeff47 Feb 2016 #9
Thank God you don't live in Arkansas LiberalArkie Feb 2016 #10
That may be what the law says, but the contract (lease) can restrict it jeff47 Feb 2016 #13
They have passed laws recently giving landlords a hell of a lot of rights over tenants. LiberalArkie Feb 2016 #14
Sure. But the lease is still governed by the contract both parties sign. (nt) jeff47 Feb 2016 #15
+1 ... And landlord's take advantage of this. eom. 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2016 #16
Washington has robust protections angrychair Feb 2016 #32
Well, that sucks big time. Do check your lease mnhtnbb Feb 2016 #11
That is criminal. navarth Feb 2016 #12
"granola republicans"? I haven't heard that term. eom 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2016 #17
It was new to me too when I heard it....in 2006 navarth Feb 2016 #19
What does it mean? I can guess ... "sometimesy liberal conservatives" AKA, libertarians. eom 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2016 #20
My interpretation: navarth Feb 2016 #23
Ahh ... libertarians! eom. 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2016 #25
perhaps navarth Feb 2016 #28
Agreed. eom 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2016 #35
Unheard BBG Feb 2016 #21
What can I tell ya? I'm not a Seattleite navarth Feb 2016 #24
They are also called "Crunchy Cons" and there's a shitload of them. MADem Feb 2016 #36
People who are good on social issues but could care less about people-- eridani Feb 2016 #37
I'm so sorry....hopefully you'll find a better deal elsewhere magical thyme Feb 2016 #18
Wishing you good luck. mountain grammy Feb 2016 #22
u r begining a Journey that will end in jubilee Rose77 Feb 2016 #26
You might get more sympathy in the Lounge... Wounded Bear Feb 2016 #27
Good luck, Jack. stage left Feb 2016 #29
I know they are swamped but please go to the Housing Authority. ASAP classykaren Feb 2016 #30
We're with you where ever you go! swilton Feb 2016 #31
Standard practice in these cases is to give tenants 90 days rent free so they can save for a move. Spitfire of ATJ Feb 2016 #33
Have a look here. You may be entitled to quite a bit of money for being 'relocated.' underahedgerow Feb 2016 #34
educated consumers are a good thing dembotoz Feb 2016 #38
Here's a link to the WA State tenants union on eviction icymist Feb 2016 #39
Thank you everyone JackInGreen Feb 2016 #40
Business as usual. This is America, Jack, and the business of America is business. Zorra Feb 2016 #41
There's some good suggestions here on this thread Arazi Feb 2016 #42

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
1. Keep in touch with the site as you can.
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 09:14 AM
Feb 2016

You might end up needing help doing a bit of fundraising for moving-related costs, even if you do find a new place, and people here might be willing to kick in a bit as and when we can.

tazkcmo

(7,286 posts)
2. Asses.
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 09:16 AM
Feb 2016

I hate that this is happening to you folks and lots of others we don't hear about. I also hate that I'm in no position to help you. Best of luck JackInGreen.

angrychair

(8,592 posts)
8. I live in Washington too
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 10:20 AM
Feb 2016

You have rights as renters in Washington.

You cannot just be thrown out

If you need help with who to contact let me know.

You can fight it and give yourself some breathing room to figure things out.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
9. Check your lease
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 10:36 AM
Feb 2016

The contract with the old owner is still binding. The lease should have provisions for how the landlord can kick you out, and under what conditions.

The places I've lived have laws that require the new owner to honor the existing lease, but WA may be different.

Selling it to a new owner does not void the old contract...unless that's explicitly spelled out in the lease.

LiberalArkie

(15,686 posts)
10. Thank God you don't live in Arkansas
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 10:48 AM
Feb 2016

In Arkansas the landlord can kick you out because you got too much mail, or you paid you rent in advance. Any reason.

jeff47

(26,549 posts)
13. That may be what the law says, but the contract (lease) can restrict it
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 10:54 AM
Feb 2016

The law is the "baseline". If the lease does not spell out "too much mail" as a reason to kick you out, they can't.

(Well, they'd lose the breach-of-contract suit if they did).

angrychair

(8,592 posts)
32. Washington has robust protections
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 12:00 PM
Feb 2016

In place to cover renters from being taken advantage of or being victimized by homeowners not paying their mortgage. He has rights in our state, he cannot just be thrown out.

mnhtnbb

(31,315 posts)
11. Well, that sucks big time. Do check your lease
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 10:53 AM
Feb 2016

for term and when it expires. You may have some breathing room until that expiration date, depending upon the rest of
the lease language about what happens if the owner sells.

navarth

(5,927 posts)
12. That is criminal.
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 10:54 AM
Feb 2016

My cousin lives in Seattle and he tells me the area is loaded with 'granola republicans'. Sounds like you snagged one in your landlord. So sorry brother.

navarth

(5,927 posts)
23. My interpretation:
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:40 AM
Feb 2016

People who adopt the outer appearance of modern, up-to-date people who are greedy assholes inside.

navarth

(5,927 posts)
28. perhaps
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:55 AM
Feb 2016

but I wish to no longer distract from the basic message of this thread....this brother is getting screwed by a greedy landlord and that's just wrong. Sounds like he's another victim of the profit motive.

BBG

(2,474 posts)
21. Unheard
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:38 AM
Feb 2016

15 years living in Seattle and have never heard the term before. But we do talk about those east side folks in a disparaging way.

navarth

(5,927 posts)
24. What can I tell ya? I'm not a Seattleite
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:41 AM
Feb 2016

but my cousin has been there decades. It's what he told me. Other than that, I got nothin'.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
36. They are also called "Crunchy Cons" and there's a shitload of them.
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 12:28 PM
Feb 2016

They shop at Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck)!!! They live in places like Massachusetts and elect assholes like Charlie Baker (and Mitt Romney) to the governor's office....! GAHHH!!!

Barely tangentially related, there was a guy who wrote a book about these people and it had that "Crunchy Con" thing in the title. I read a review of the book and thought "Hmmm...these guys could easily 'infiltrate' more liberal venues' and I wanted to discuss the concept and an article I found about it, and those people. I got a little feedback, not much, though. That was ten years ago, I think! Plus ça change, I guess!



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x201475

eridani

(51,907 posts)
37. People who are good on social issues but could care less about people--
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:08 PM
Feb 2016

--lower on the income distribution scale than they are. Living in Seattle, I'm very familiar with the type.

mountain grammy

(26,568 posts)
22. Wishing you good luck.
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:39 AM
Feb 2016

Its happening far too regularly in Colorado. I've helped three friends who've been evicted from long time rentals bought by investors who plan a high end remodel. Not much left for the working poor.

Wounded Bear

(58,436 posts)
27. You might get more sympathy in the Lounge...
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 11:54 AM
Feb 2016


But best wishes, man. I was basically homeless a couple of years ago, went from couch surfing with family, to renting a room in a shit hole house full of Foxbots, to finally getting cheap retiree housing when my Soc Sec kicked in. Worked shit paying temp jobs the whole while.

At least it was just me, no wife and kids. Take care, and try to stay in touch. It's the little things like some on-line friends that help save your sanity in tough times.

underahedgerow

(1,232 posts)
34. Have a look here. You may be entitled to quite a bit of money for being 'relocated.'
Thu Feb 18, 2016, 12:02 PM
Feb 2016
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpdd016420.pdf

You are entitled in the very least to some protections and possibly at least 2000 bucks, so have a read through and start doing some research.

And you should have been provided a great deal of documentation including who the new owner is, where to pay your rent, etc.

Do not stop paying rent, keep it all clean and simple, just learn what your rights are and exercise them.

icymist

(15,888 posts)
39. Here's a link to the WA State tenants union on eviction
Fri Feb 19, 2016, 04:12 AM
Feb 2016
http://www.tenantsunion.org/en/rights/section/eviction

I understand way too much what you're going through. The apartment building I was living in was sold overnight to some Chicago people who only understood that they were going to become rich. Using the resources from the tenants union I was able to hold them off a few months until I found something else that was suitable. I wish you luck with this.

JackInGreen

(2,975 posts)
40. Thank you everyone
Fri Feb 19, 2016, 10:36 AM
Feb 2016

We're trying. All the advice is much appreciated, and the support.....yeah, kinda broken up and speechless

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
41. Business as usual. This is America, Jack, and the business of America is business.
Fri Feb 19, 2016, 10:45 AM
Feb 2016

"It's nothing personal."

Fuck them all. We need to get Bernie elected and get our lives, our resources, and and our country out of the hands of heartless, greedy business people and under our own control.

All the best to you and your family, brother.

Arazi

(6,829 posts)
42. There's some good suggestions here on this thread
Fri Feb 19, 2016, 11:39 AM
Feb 2016

I don't have any answers, just best wishes that you find the perfect next place

Keep us posted and set up a GoFundMe account!

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