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Rented to sect. 8 tenant. Tenant violated rental agreement: damaged property, didn't carry renters insurance, pest control as required, late fees (rent late each month), spouse residing in property but not on lease and failure to maintain yard. Sherriff served notice.Tenant said they moving... View More 
Does the 30 days start from the time the letter is signed for (in the case of a certified letter) regardless of the deadline noted in the letter? Landlord made the deadline to vacate 30 days from the date he wrote the letter. Not allowing for the time it takes to arrive by mail and going to the... View More
answered on Oct 20, 2021
§ 55.1-1253. Periodic tenancy; holdover remedies.
A. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a week-to-week tenancy by serving a written notice on the other at least seven days prior to the next rent due date. The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by serving a... View More
My landlord sent a certified letter that stated in the heading "30 Eviction Notice" (he left out the word day) dated 09/17/2021. In the body he states "You are hereby notified that your lease terminated on Nov. 30 2019. This letter serves as your thirty day notice of termination of... View More
answered on Oct 20, 2021
With regard to a month-to-month tenancy, either the landlord or the tenant can give a 30 day written notice, according to the Code of Virginia, by giving the other party a written notice for the termination of the tenancy no later than the last day of the month before the termination date. For... View More
He was asked in August was he going to renew and he said yes then he received a email stating they weren’t going to renew.
answered on Oct 17, 2021
Th renewal of a residential lease is a two party agreement/contract. Both parties to the original lease are required to agree to the renewal or there will not be a renewal. Based on the facts that you reported, the landlord has not signed a renewal agreement and therefore the lease will not be... View More
I am currently renting out my property. The contract ends November the 1st of this year. The tenants have already moved but payed for the month of October as well. Can I rekey my doors after the 2nd when the contracts ends?
answered on Oct 13, 2021
In Virginia, when the tenant has fully vacated the premises and returned the keys of possession to the landlord, the landlord has complete possession and control of the premises, which gives the landlord the authority to re-key the doors.
Is it a law in Virginia to provide keys for two locks?
answered on Oct 7, 2021
To my knowledge, there is no law in Virginia that obligates a landlord to provide keys for two locks, unless there are two locks at the premises when the landlord delivers possession to the tenant at the beginning of the lease term.
I have got the eviction and unpaid rent judgments against the tenant from the honorable general district court. After getting the judgment, the tenant contacted me if I would go for Rent Relief Program now ? She had refused for the same when I gave her the 14 days notice.
The lease expires... View More
answered on Oct 6, 2021
Generally, when a tenant who has not paid the rent on a timely basis and now there is a judgment for possession and damages, the tenant's back is against the wall and will do anything to stay in the premises. Landlords who agree to such an offer are only looking for more trouble with the same... View More
Isnt asking for this information a violation of my privacy. I have a lease agreement and dont see how they can ask for this information.
answered on Sep 30, 2021
Generally, the residential lease will state the requirements for a tenant to provide the landlord with certain documents, such as title and insurance. If the lease is silent as to this requirement, then the landlord cannot unilaterally change the terms of the lease and demand additional documents... View More
My family of 5 including myself live with my mother-in-law & her boyfriend but she just on the 13th of Sept passed from covid. We are not on the lease. We did sign a paper when we moved in here for 4 months & we've been here almost 2yrs. though, the boyfriend being friends with the... View More
answered on Sep 30, 2021
In Virginia, the laws that govern landlord-tenant matters are found in the Virginia Code (statewide laws), and not in a county-by-county set of rules.
In a situation in which the landlord claims the tenant/occupants are behind in the monthly rent, the proper procedure is for the landlord... View More
I discovered the bedbugs within a week of physically moving into the apartment, before I had moved in any of my furniture (so I am confident they did not come from the movers). The landlord insists that treating pests is a tenant responsibility. They initially refused to provide maintenance, but... View More
answered on Sep 29, 2021
In Virginia, a tenant can file a Tenant's Assertion to claim the premises is uninhabitable because of beg bugs. The Court will determine if the lease should be terminated and if rent will be abated. This is your recourse based on the facts you reported.
I have a valid lease ending May 2022 in Virginia
answered on Sep 28, 2021
Generally in Virginia, when a tenant has not paid rent on the date it is due (you admitted you are behind in the rent) the landlord has the right to file an Unlawful Detainer and ask the Court to award (by Court Order) the Landlord possession of the premises and then for the right of the Landlord... View More
He has been notified multiple times but doesn’t respond to my messages
answered on Sep 21, 2021
A neighbor has no right to force another neighbor who is a landlord to evict a tenant for smoking on the premises. You may have a right to report the nuisance to the Condominium Board and complain or to the Property Manager for recourse.
answered on Sep 20, 2021
The terms of the residential lease will determine when and how a landlord can terminate the residential lease. This is a contract law question. On the second question, the landlord has the right to place the premises on the real estate market for sale, but the new owner will be required to take... View More
My tenant wants to break a year long lease early. I told her that she is legally obligated to pay the rent until we find someone to take over her lease, or pay a fee. She was unhappy about this and has not talked to me since. How do I protect myself if she refuses to pay and just leaves? I have one... View More
answered on Sep 17, 2021
If the tenant fails to pay the rent, you will need to give the tenant a written notice to pay or quit. If then the tenant does not pay the rent, you will be required to file an Unlawful Detainer in the General Distract Court where the premises is located and seek damages and the return of... View More
Okay so my landlord said if we moved he would give us security deposit we did so and they blocked my phone number and sent a cease and desase for harrassment the home was robbed as well because they tried to say we abandoned the home when we did not I’m in need of a lawyer cause at this point I... View More
answered on Sep 14, 2021
You're not required to leave in 72 hours. The landlord has to go through the court system to get an eviction. Of course, if you want to leave and you're able to reach an agreement with the landlord then that's your choice, but it's not a requirement. If you decide to hire a... View More
answered on Sep 14, 2021
If the tenant has an exclusive right to the room, it may include the locking and unlocking of the door to the room but this would depend on what is stated in the written lease.
Are there any limitations on use if funds in an escrow account for rent deposit?
answered on Sep 12, 2021
Funds in an escrow account for a security deposit are allowed to be used for the property damages to the premises at the end of the term of the lease. Those funds are restricted to that extent.
The first ceiling fell not due to water damage, then the second bedroom ceiling fell the next day then we noticed my bedroom sagging. I stayed at my girlfriends house for 20 days so far while the landlord fix it. The workers didn't put down any plastic over my belongings and spread that... View More
answered on Sep 8, 2021
It sounds like the premises is in an uninhabitable condition. You should contact the Office of Housing Code Enforcement for the city/county in which the premises is located and make a formal complaint. An inspector should be sent to the premises to make an inspection. If the inspector finds... View More
I can't find a place that will be available before we have to be out.
answered on Sep 7, 2021
Your issue relates to the rights and obligations under a contract/lease. It is not a consumer rights issue. As a consequence, your rights are contained in the lease and if there is no provision in the lease for the tenant to exercise an extension, it would then depend on a new mutual agreement... View More
Basically my apt complex is under new management . New workers in there have gone back previous months and has added fees that I owe a water bill , washer and dryer fees , pest control fees . My lease clearly states water is included in my rent but the washer and dryer isn't stated in my lease... View More
answered on Sep 3, 2021
You first step is to write the landlord/management company a written letter that details your position and references the provisions of the lease that you claim absolves you from those fees/charges. Give them a deadline to respond. If they do not resolve the matter with you, your next step is to... View More
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