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I gave a $100 deposit to hold an apartment. Do I have 3 days to cancel & get my deposit back in WA State?
Anonymous3 views1 answers
On Tuesday, I gave an apartment manager $35 to do a credit check, after which I was immediately approved. The following day, Wednesday, I gave him a check to hold the apartment until the 30th. Today, Thursday, I changed my mind, due to the numerous complaints regarding the complex.
Is there a 3-day right to cancel the $100 deposit in Washington?? I have not yet signed a lease. But I did sign (and did not receive a copy, of the paper to hold the apartment for the $100. I think there is a 3-day right of recission. Is there? Can I cancel the check? (The manager told me if I did so, that he would send it to a collection agency).
I don't believe there is any statutory 3-day right to cancel a payment that was made to hold an apartment open for you. Generally, the Washington Landlord-Tenant Act requires that any deposit deemed nonrefundable must be designated as such in the rental agreement RCW 59.18.285). In your case, you never reached the point of entering into a rental agreement, and had simply made a payment to hold the apartment, so this provision likely doesn't apply.
If there's anything good to come out of your situation, be glad you discovered it was not a place you wanted to live when you were only out $100, and not bound to a year long lease.
