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Can tenant put lein on property for time and money spent on project he chose to do on property?

WashingtonMechanics LienRight to Lien

Tenant wanted to build apartment in my barn. I wanted a toilet, shower, and bedroom in there for my own use when I am there. So I said ok. He said he would pay for all materials and provide all labor. He built an extravagent apartment thinking he and his wife would someday buy my property and live there themselves, renting out the other houses. Since then his wife has died and he learned he could not buy my property because I am not ready to sell it. Meanwhile against the rental agreement he has been subletting the apartment for $500 a month to an uncle who helps him with his 3 kids. Over the course of the project he asked for me to help out. I twice gave him $2500 he was supposed to pay back. Since he can't buy the property and will now have to move out, he is threatening to put a lein on my property to get compensated for "ALL OF THE MATERIALS AND LABOR" he has put into the property. We never had a contract. I never agreed to pay him anything. I never had any control over what he chose to build in the barn. I have never even seen it, and he did not bother to get any permits for any of the work he did. Can he put a lein on my property? He is not a contractor.

2 replies

Jul 20, 2021
If the tenant is not a licensed contractor in Washington, he cannot put a lien on the property. Also, I am guessing your lease or rental agreement states any improvements made by the tenant revert to the property at the end of the lease.
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Jul 21, 2021
So the permit & him not being a contractor wasn't an issue when he was building this extravagant apartment? For you to give $5,000 towards this project & also consider it a loan makes it seem like there was more to it. Doesn't make sense to pay back $5,000 unless there were plans on owning it.
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