Woodbridge, VA asked in Landlord - Tenant for Virginia

Q: Landlord in VA. Tenants signed 12 month lease & stopped paying rent. Utilities are In my name. Can I shut off internet?

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2 Lawyer Answers
F. Paul Maloof
F. Paul Maloof
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Alexandria, VA
  • Licensed in Virginia

A: In Virginia, there is a prohibition for a landlord who is a party to a residential lease to take any self-help actions toward the tenant. A Judge may very well interpret the shutting off of the internet as self-help and impose a sanction on the landlord for such conduct.

Steven Krieger
Steven Krieger
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Arlington, VA
  • Licensed in Virginia

A: It depends on whether the judge views the internet as a utility. Certainly, you cannot shut off water, gas, electric, but arguably the internet is not a utility. You probably want an attorney to review your lease. I'm sure anyone who responds would be happy to help with this or the eviction process. Good luck.

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