r/SeattleWA • u/Her3cy • 20d ago
Homeless Should i break my lease?
Just recently moved here from out of state and my leasing agent really downplayed the homeless situation outside of my building. I’ve only been here 3 days and in that time a homeless man snuck in and SHIT on a young ladies bed, an overdose, and someone breaking down crack rocks on the window pane of the main front entrance. I’ve read through some of the tenant laws and i can break my lease with no hassle if safety standards aren’t being upheld. Prob going to get downvoted to hell. Please advise
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u/West_Act_9655 20d ago
If it is bad as you say even if you have to pay it’s better than putting yourself at risk
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u/Less-Risk-9358 20d ago
Yes. Break it and move to a safer area.
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
This is the way. OP should consult a lawyer too.
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u/pencilears_mom2 19d ago
Change your mindset a bit. You have obligations under the law and your rental agreement. So does your landlord. Now, exactly who in this fact pattern is not honoring their obligations? Not you, your landlord has already broken the lease by not providing you with “quiet enjoyment”. Its a two step process. You have to give written notice. Not text or email, ON PAPER. RCW 59.18.070 is from 1973, no one had smartphones or website portals. The rule about how you get this piece of paper to your landlord require hand-delivery OR posting and mailing. Save a copy for yourself.
Notice contains your factual allegations recited above. Wait ten days. RCW 59.18.090 says you write again, tell them you are leaving and GO.
This is not breaking your lease. It is you mitigating your damages because your landlord broke the lease. And no, they don’t get a lease break fee.
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u/General-Penalty5501 19d ago
...AND the landlord must return your deposit within 30 days (they can mail it to your last known address with any deduction for damages listed). If they don't, you can take them to small claims court and prevail.
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u/NervePublic3062 16d ago
Hey so, minor thing here - this isn’t what quiet enjoyment usually holds up as in KCC/KCSC. This usually means the landlord may not harass (e.g call 4x a day on past due rent; email excessively without a response etc), not that outside noise or disruption may not occur (yes, including transients unfortunately). Definitely check with the WA Tenants Union or HJP to verify against the specific lease verbiage, but I’ve never had someone use this specific clause for exterior circumstances successfully. Further, the process is relatively lengthy to do correctly. It’s best to approach the landlord for mutual termination instead; and tends to be cheaper if they are amicable to it.
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u/pencilears_mom2 16d ago
I’m in legal services in King County, and this approach works like a charm. Especially in Seattle.
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u/viagrafallss 20d ago
What area did this happen
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u/Her3cy 20d ago
Belltown 3rd ave
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u/rucksack_of_cheeses 20d ago
3rd ave is the worst. My condolences
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
It really is. Downtown Tacoma by Hilltop is about as bad.
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u/macaronit0ni 18d ago
Tacoma always catching strays 😞
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u/One-Fox7646 18d ago
It was horrible when I lived there. Gunshots every night. Crazy screaming people. Cars racing. Horrible neighbors fighting, doing drugs, blasting music. Hobos breaking into the building. I had horrible sleep quality. Would never live there again for all the money in the world.
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u/Designer_Record_5737 18d ago
imo hilltop has improved a lot over the past few years, i live by the mission & think its worse down here than it is there.
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u/Formal-Row2081 Banned from /r/Seattle 20d ago
Brother you managed to move to one of the top 3 worst places in Seattle. Take the L, break the lease, document everything, lawyer up.
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u/Krypt0night 19d ago
What are the other two
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
Rainer and Jackson and 23rd or 12th and Jackson.
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u/ReasonableSaltShaker 19d ago
Is 23rd and Jackson where the Walgreens parking lot looks like a prison court yard?
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u/SadEntertainment3891 20d ago
I live in Belltown on 3rd Ave. It's the worst possible place to live. It's honestly hell on earth. When I first moved here I was in shock. Living down here has definitely hardened me but not in a good way. If I were you I'd get out. Good luck
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u/Awkward_Procedure903 20d ago
It is terrible there and I was in Seattle when Belltown was safer as blocks of disused car dealerships and one scary tavern.
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u/311TruthMovement 20d ago
Lol I used to live at 4th and Bell (c. 2007), and I immediately thought "was it the Charlesgate?" Just one block away.
I thought maybe in 2025 things might be very different…they are not.
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u/larslanderson 19d ago
Charlesgate is a shit hole. It's actually gotten worse when they closed the Dashmart behind it. But they did open a new apartment kitty corner from it, units start at $5k a month.
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u/MrslaveXxX 20d ago
Damn you shoulda read some posts here about Belltown, especially 3rd ave before you signed a lease there. Good luck with the drug addicted zombies roaming around your place at all hours.
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
That explains everything. That area is horrid. Break the lease. Here is my list of good apartments.
Avalon Alderwood Place-Lynnwood
Edgewood Heights-Edgewood
Kinect at Shoreline-Shoreline
Monarch-Columbia City
Seven 227-Des Moines
Trouve-Federal Way
Vicino-Bellevue
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u/Clear-Frame9108 19d ago
3rd ave is the worst, it's even worse closer to the McDonald's by 3rd and Pike/Pine
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u/Silly-Jackfruit-1655 19d ago
Emmons Apartments was my first guess upon reading your post - looks like that was a decent guess.
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u/Accurate_Athlete_182 19d ago
That is one of the most dangerous areas to live in Seattle right now. You should sue the realtor. Get out asap.
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u/TriscuitRiscuit 19d ago
I live there too. You’re right, but in this city, we kinda have to stick up for ourselves. That area is super nice, but I hear your concerns, and I sometimes worry about the same things.
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u/Gigglenator 19d ago
If you’re next to the dog park on 3rd ave then you’re in the highest concentration of crime in the Belltown neighborhood. There’s a lot of drug activity in and around the dog park and at the bus stop and up and down Bell St. It seems you’re building isn’t safe, your leasing agent knows that, you should ask for them to cancel the lease and move based on the recent interactions as there will be more.
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u/Electronic_Layer_205 20d ago
That is absolutely crazy! I’m so sorry you just moved here and have to deal with this. I really hope you’re able to break your lease with ease.
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u/abbazabba75 20d ago
Yeah try and break the lease. Pretty much anywhere else downtown or in other neighborhoods in Seattle would be superior to 3rd Ave in belltown. Did you choose it because it was cheap or what were you thinking?
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u/Her3cy 20d ago
it was cheap, got a move in special, not a bad commute to my job
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u/abbazabba75 20d ago
Kinda figured. Idk what you are paying, but I imagine you can find something comparable in LQA/QA or Cap Hill. If you wanna be downtown / cap hill / lqa, there is just gonna be nuts hobos. But 3rd ave and belltown are about as bad as it gets.
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u/BWW87 20d ago
I live on 4th in Belltown and it's night and day from 3rd. Sorry you just got stuck with a bad block. Things will change again probably. 6 months ago it wasn't nearly as bad in Belltown.
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u/Feeling_Proposal_350 20d ago
Yes it was. 3rd has been shit since before the pandemic.
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u/rosymindedfuzzz 19d ago
Yes. I used to work down there in 2008. We called it 3rd & Hell.
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u/Background_Sea7170 19d ago
You know I was thinking it wasn't that bad back then but I remember I'm actually remembering 4th. Doesn't rapid ride have a convergence of lines there at 3rd and bell? By a bicycle shop and biscuit bitch?
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u/SadEntertainment3891 19d ago
That's the area I live. I actually live a block away from Dan's. Talk about scary. And I can't afford to move either.
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u/Background_Sea7170 19d ago
Yeah that place always smelled like piss. The duality of Seattle is the Zeeks shitty $50 pizza a couple blocks away
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u/_Majicat5 20d ago
Sorry to hear. Belltown used to be a fun area not too long ago. I used to hang out at the bars along 2nd before COVID. I live nearby still but not in that spot- 3rd ave just happens to be the absolute worst now. If you can break your lease, it's worth your safety to move on.
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
Get the hell out of there. I am serious. I moved here from out of state a few years ago.
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
OP is from out state. I also moved from out of state, did research and still got duped. It happens.
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u/I-NeedAboutTreeFiddy 20d ago
Just wait until the fire truck wakes you up every night.
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u/SadEntertainment3891 20d ago
Or the people partying outside your window on the street all night or the condo's across the street playing Japanese opera all night or the loud ass cars that don't care about ruining their cars as long as they get one over on us apartment folks who attempt getting something called 'sleep' every single night (try to, anyhow), but are unsuccessful most of the time.
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u/Her3cy 20d ago
Ngl i’m getting cooked! but seriously thanks for the advice. will drop the complex name after i sign a new lease today. Already have two showings in LQA
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u/Bigboysdrinkmilk 20d ago
I live in LQA and it’s wonderful here. Usually quiet except for event nights, and within easy walking distance to nearly anything by you’d need. Hope it works out for you!
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u/InMySmutEra82 Lower Queen Anne 19d ago
I live in LQA and love it. I’ve been in my apartment for six years. Good luck today!
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20d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/pyrotech911 19d ago
I could not find a lawyer to represent me as a tenant. Insurance said I was SOL. Probably because it’s so common
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u/berndverst 19d ago
I find this legal insurance is mostly used by people who are getting speeding or parking tickets that are fully deserved but they are trying to get out of anyway 🤷♂️
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u/allhailmillie 20d ago
That area on 3rd is one of the worst places in the city. If you do move, be careful about places on Aurora
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u/ReasonableSaltShaker 19d ago
Oh boy. That would be something. Live on 3rd, then move to 90th and Aurora.
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u/OldMcMittens 20d ago
I moved to Seattle from out of state and I ran into major issues all the time my first place. I moved out and it was a pain but I’m glad I did. The violence from the homeless of Seattle is no joke. I’m so sorry your leasing agent was dishonest.
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u/Past_Paint_225 20d ago
Check in your lease if your apartment has a trial period. The Green lake apartment where I used to like had a 15 day no questions asked lease break condition added to it.
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u/thesecretmarketer Westlake 20d ago edited 9d ago
If you leave now, you'll forever have a story about how you dodged a bullet. That area is notorious, so whoever you tell the story to will know.
The optics look good if you move out within 3 days. If you don't wait, you definitely look like the victim of a lying salesperson. Let us know the outcome.
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
OP, I moved here a couple years ago from out of state. I leased an apartment sight unseen. Ended up in downtown Tacoma near Hilltop. Short version. Every night gunshots, cars racing, screaming hobos, open drug use on premises and nothing done about it, neighbors making horrible noise at all hours and nothing done about it, junkies blocking doors and hanging around. It was a year of living hell. I could not afford the lease break fee. Lesson learned. Never, ever move anywhere sight unseen. Most, not all, apartments will lie and say anything to get you to sign. I'd consult a lawyer and see what options you have. If you can afford it, you usually have to pay a lease break fee.
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u/moomoofish94 19d ago
I lived on the ground floor of The Cornelius on 3rd in Belltown for 1 1/2 years and at no point in that time did I EVER feel safe or comfortable.
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u/Better_March5308 👻 20d ago
I’ve only been here 3 days and in that time a homeless man snuck in and SHIT on a young ladies bed.
Dumper Dave strikes again.
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u/QuietRiot5150 20d ago
Man, I would break my lease. Who knows what will happen next? Your personal safety and peace of mind is most important here. You have the right to the peaceful enjoyment of your residence. I'm pretty sure that's a law.
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u/Mysterious-future77 20d ago
Which apartment building?
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u/jajathewawa 19d ago
could be the emmons on 3rd. i've delivered there a lot and there are always homeless people outside
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u/BWW87 20d ago
It doesn't sound like the apartment building is failing. It's the city and county. There's nothing the landlord can do to stop people from getting into the building if the city doesn't enforce laws. There's nothing the landlord can do to stop people from letting problem people from getting into the building when the county won't let them evict people who do it.
I feel bad for you but the city and county and their voters did this. Not sure why you're blaming the landlord.
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u/Basic-Regret-6263 20d ago
There's nothing the landlord can do to stop people from getting into the building
Doors no longer exist?
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u/ToughPillToSwallow 19d ago
This comment deserves more upvotes. It’s a bad situation for OP. It’s also a bad situation for the landlord. I haven’t read every comment yet, but I haven’t seen one so far about what the landlord has failed to do. I’ll be very surprised if there isn’t a locking door.
But other residents can just prop it open. Or hobos can follow someone into the parking garage. Or someone could break a door.
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18d ago
[deleted]
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u/BWW87 18d ago
Most of Belltown isn't bad. It's really just 3rd Ave and Blanchard Ave. 4th and east you don't see much issues.
But yes, high end places have more security because they can afford it. But even places like West Edge are having serious issues with drug addicts getting in and causing problems. The biggest difference between high end and lower end though are the residents. High end places will not have residents who have friends that are the type of drug addicts that cause problems in buildings. Lower end have that problem. It only takes one person that likes to invite their druggie friends in who then let others in and cause problems.
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u/skookumeyes 20d ago
Sorry to hear your situation, do what you need to do for your peace of mind. I would go past their daily from 92’ to 95’ and even then, people were selling crack on the corner. I had a friend who lived in that area tell me all kinds of stories of late night violence and disgusting happenings …and he moved out just months after moving in. I would guess that there might be some kind of low income drug rehab program trying to help addicted people operating in the area. Seemingly something is continually bringing in a fresh batch of addicts to that area. Good luck!
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u/Grumpalumpahaha 20d ago
Blow the company up on social media too, so people know to not trust them.
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u/Radaf93 20d ago
Oh man if you had only lived a few blocks away it would have been a completely different living situation. The closer you move north in Belltown towards Olympic Sculpture Park, the better the area gets. The homeless situation is terrible on 3rd Ave. I would try moving out. It’s not worth sacrificing your safety by living there.
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u/BitterDoGooder 19d ago
Find another place before you do. But yes, you shouldn't have to deal with this shit. Good luck.
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u/OutlandishnessTop503 19d ago
A non-profit in Belltown was taking flack for homeless people in the neighborhood 25 years ago. Their building got gentrified, they moved out of downtown, and yet somehow the problems are now worse.
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u/devtank 19d ago
3 Days? Oh F yeah, break that lease. Maybe look for legal advice on the web, and cross check that, as you don’t want to be armed and convinced of something that actually could bite you. There’s basic decency in agreements and contracts, one which is assumed that both parties are fully aware of all the facts, and if they downplayed any part of that, you could argue that in your favor. But spend a few hours and wise up on how to tackle this. Sounds awful, sorry to hear it.
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u/nikkitaylor2022 19d ago
I would and then contact an attorney and see if you can get your deposit and fees for breaking the lease back.
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u/iscreamshakes 19d ago
OP, doesn’t your apartment have that “30-day satisfaction guarantee”? If it does, you just pay however long you occupied the apartment and just move out.
3rd Ave is probably one of the worst places. I almost signed a lease but changed my mind last minute. I'm glad I did.
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u/Starfallknight 19d ago
Yes make them face consequences for not upholding the general safety in the area
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u/ProtonTommy15 19d ago
I sure as hell won't down vote you. We don't need to put up with this bullshit. Break your lease and tell the realtor you're not going to do business with them ever again for being dishonest with you. People need to be held accountable. Good luck!
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u/Vast_Baseball4624 19d ago
Vote democrat, they are tolerant to you and care about the well being of all people . They will solve the problem. It’s the lack of taxes that cause the homeless problems. The poor state is in dept. people need to stand up and vote. I’m willing to pay 60% of my income to taxes to help
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u/MarchResident9271 19d ago
this is Seattle. everyone says it’s still a great place to live regardless of the drugs homeless and crime and they love the city just gotta embrace your homeless crack smoking neighbors
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u/Wild-Road-7080 20d ago
This is seattle now, the world needs to know it. The food is mediocre and overpriced frozen shit outta the back of a truck. The rent is higher than almost anywhere even though you gotta drive or walk past hordes or fentynal zombies to get to the front door. Leaving your car anywhere overnight is an invitation for a broken window. Fucking Starbucks, nuff said. The cops could give a shit less, unless you live on queen Anne hill and are rich. The streets smell like piss and look like shit. Getting anywhere in a car during the day is ass and takes forever. I could say more but I'd rather just not waste my breath talking about this slum. Yes I'd break lease.
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u/Fandethar 19d ago
It's sad. It wasn't like this at all when I lived in Seattle on Cap Hill.
We would walk from my shitty little apartment to Freeway Park. Sometimes we'd walk to Pike Place Market. Other times we'd walk to LQA. I never saw a homeless person, never saw anything out of the ordinary.
It was safe back in the late 70s early 80's. It was clean. It was beautiful. I was proud to say that I was born and raised in Seattle. Now I won't even drive over the bridge to go into Seattle. Fuck that.
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u/SadEntertainment3891 20d ago
You are not wrong, but it's my city and even hearing a little bit of the truth still hurts.
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u/One-Fox7646 19d ago
You have a lot of excellent points. There are many areas/blocks/neighborhoods that are decent though. Sometimes even a block over makes a difference.
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u/Prestigious_Try_3741 20d ago
I lived in NY when you could see bums dying from AIDS in the streets, people shootin junk, looong city blocks of prostitution and sexual stuff on every building block for “massage parlors” and it stunk of pee & poop all over the place in the 80’s. Somebody right near the apartment was dragged city blocks by a purse snatcher that grabbed her necklace from a car…. I got mugged before… and 3rd is worse than that having seen both…. The only difference is you can conceal carry in Wa state & its geographically smaller. Its almost guaranteed you will step in human shit in seattle. I have almost stepped on a tossed needle. F this place. I’m making my wealth & moving far from the cesspool and brain dead lunatics.
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u/retrojoe heroin for harried herons 20d ago
Who do you know who's gotten mugged in Seattle? The only times I hear stories like that are people hanging on the street after bar close or trying to score drugs.
Also, if lived in NYC in the early 1990s, how are you gonna get wealthy in the downslope of your working years?
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u/Scottibell 18d ago
Maybe you’re new to town and don’t know many people yet? Too many people have been mugged in Seattle, including myself and it happens all the time.
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u/arborheights27 20d ago
State legislature is working on the conceal carry part, many will not have that option in the future. Especially if you are poor working class. Junkies and thieves get all the symphony from leadership at the city and state level.
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u/ImplementEvening1068 19d ago
What I'm not seeing is your credit score. It goes down so fast and goes up, at least for me 10 point a months.
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u/DrPudy808 19d ago
That sounds just awful & certainly not safe. I would definitely break the lease. I wish Seattle would get it together, so sad.
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u/numbertwoanimefan 19d ago
I just moved out of Moda at 3rd and Bell. The building was horrible. Leasing office was horrible. We had to have most of the stuff repaired or replaced within the first 3 months. Homeless folk don’t really bother me but there were a few times going to the local corner stores at night where I got a little sketched out. People kept breaking into the apartment and pulling the fire alarm. But yeah it’s just sad walking outside EVERY SINGLE DAY and seeing people at the stop just hunched over. One time my girlfriend couldn’t get into the building because someone was passed out and leaning against the front door. Had to go around back through the alley. Not sure if that’s where OP is but I’m much happier no longer living there.
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u/evansmama 19d ago
This sounds like Castle Apartments to me- right in Belltown. I toured the place and it was very similar situation. Really bad homeless population directly outside the doors (bad as in extreme amount and all men - I am a single female) & there were squatters in the second unit we looked at in building. Absolute shit show. So glad I did not move there even though unit was super cute inside. Break your lease, and maybe look on fb for moving in for a few months with some one to explore the neighborhoods
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u/DerpUrself69 19d ago
You're not getting downvoted in this Seattle sub, they exist to promote fictional nonsense like this.
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u/alpha333omega 19d ago
Damn man, this is a tough spot to be in but I would 100% move. I also had to move out of Aurora due to drug zombie break ins and I don’t miss that shit for a second.
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u/ReasonableSaltShaker 19d ago edited 19d ago
You misspelled "leasing sales person".
To be slightly more helpful: Small claims court limit here is $10,000. If you have half a (legal) leg to stand on, that's the immediate next step if they don't refund deposit and pro-rated rent.
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u/wightdeathP 18d ago
When I moved out of federal way into my new place the guy at my new place said most leases has clauses to invoke if you feel unsafe
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u/KrakAttacken 18d ago
I figured 12th and Jackson. But OP states on 3rd. My goodness. One block over to 4th and it's so different. In front. The rear of the buildings to the garage are an issue
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u/cneda105 18d ago
Fine another apt in the same management company. They’ll often let you “transfer” a lease for 500$
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u/DroppinKnee 17d ago
Belltown 3rd Ave?!? Is your apartment complex called “Emmons on 3rd”? I had to break lease here recently too due to the same homeless/safety concerns
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u/Brilliant-Ad6681 17d ago
I live on rainier and Jackson it is terrible the streets are blocked by dope fiends by lams market is really bad also my apartment is full of fent and crack heroine every drug I can think these people do the steal kill and destroy like the devil and I was told it was a safe place but I’m afraid and ready to move but my financial situation is a problem right now
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u/SirTagCr 17d ago
I would give a shit. Safety comes first. If you have the financial means, I would move.
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u/PeepingDom253 15d ago
I’m sorry, this is fuckin hilarious tho. like the homeless person could have broke in and used the bathroom in the building, instead dropped a deuce on someone’s bed. cant make this shit up
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u/bobbidave 15d ago
I would leave that all sucks and seems to be not safe if homeless are getting in and drug users
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u/chickenwingsnfries 20d ago
Please share the apartment complex so the rest of us don’t make the same mistake