I’m renting an apartment in Bellevue, Washington, and I’m trying to understand whether my property management company is correctly interpreting my lease.
Timeline
- My fixed-term lease began on August 2, 2025.
- The lease ends at 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2026.
- The lease requires written notice at least 20 days before the final day of the lease.
- Management says my notice was due by July 12, 2026.
- I will submit my written notice on July 22, 2026, so I am 10 days late.
- Management says that because I missed the deadline, my lease automatically converts to month-to-month.
- They are not just saying I owe rent through August 31. They are telling me that my move-out notice must list September 30, 2026, and that I will be responsible for rent through September 30.
Their explanation was:
I understand that I missed the deadline to terminate the fixed lease on August 1. What I do not understand is why that would extend my responsibility all the way through September 30.
Relevant lease language
Lease Term
The lease says:
The month-to-month section also says:
Based on this, I understand why management argues that I missed the deadline to terminate on August 1.
In Another Paragraph - Rent and Charges
It says:
This is why I think the next possible termination date should be August 31 rather than September 30. My notice will be submitted well over 20 days before August 31.
Another Paragraph - Move-Out Notice
This paragraph says:
It also says:
I do not see anything in this paragraph saying that I must wait until the fixed lease officially expires before giving notice to terminate the following month-to-month tenancy.
Rent Addendum
Management directed me to the Rent Addendum and said it explains the calendar-month and month-to-month terms.
The addendum says the monthly rent continues throughout the lease:
However, I do not see anything in the Rent Addendum specifically stating that missing the August 1 deadline automatically makes September 30 the earliest possible termination date.
How I understand it
I see three possible dates:
- August 1: This was the original lease expiration date. I recognize that my notice was 10 days late under the lease’s 20-day requirement. I have asked management to grant me a courtesy release effective August 1 because I have been a responsible tenant for the past year, but I understand that they may refuse.
- August 31: This seems like the next possible termination date because the lease says month-to-month rental periods run from the first through the last day of the month, and my notice will be submitted more than 20 days before August 31.
- September 30: This is the date management is requiring. Their position appears to be that the month-to-month tenancy begins after August 1 and must then continue for at least one additional full calendar month. But this is mentioned no where in the lease.
My questions
1. Because I submitted notice 10 days late, can management legally require me to pay rent through August 31, even though the original fixed lease ends August 1?
2. Can management legally require me to pay through September 30, even though my written notice will be submitted more than 20 days before August 31?
More specifically, does Washington law or this lease prevent a notice submitted before the month-to-month conversion from terminating the tenancy on August 31?
I would greatly appreciate any advice!!!