Can an e-mail with date and time stamp which was replied to constitute “written notice”?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can an e-mail with date and time stamp which was replied to constitute “written notice”?
We send an email, more than 20 days before vacating, to our current building management titled “reference letter” explaining that because we are moving out at the end of our lease our new landlord would like a reference letter. The reply said we have to come down to their office for written notice and the new landlord must fax something to them. We ended up not needing the reference letter and we had no idea that by written notice he meant to vacate as in this email will not suffice as notice. Are we liable for next month’s rent?
Asked on August 31, 2011 Washington
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
You will need to review the law in Washington State as to what written document constitutes written notice to the landlord to terminate your lease. From what you have written, the body of the e mail in California would constitute written notice that you would be terminating your lease and be effective as a notice to the landlord that your lease with him or her was coming to an end.
The landlord even sent a reply to this e mail. Obviously the landlord or his/her agent was on notice long ago that the lease you had was nearing its end on the stated date listed in your e mail.
From what you have written, it does not appear that you would be obligated for any rent past the deadline set in your e mail for vacating the unit at the lease's term.
Good luck.
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.