Evictions

Know Your Rights

Other Housing Problems

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BASIC VIRGINIA LANDLORD-TENANT LAW

This pdf presentation will provide an overview of the basics of Virginia Landlord-Tenant law.

Evictions (including Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs)

Every tenant has the legal right to remain in their rental housing unless and until the landlord follows the legal process for eviction. The process depends on whether your rental housing is covered by the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA). Generally speaking, the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act, or VRLTA, applies to apartment complexes, regardless of the number of apartments; single-family houses, if the landlord rents out more than two of them; and hotels, motels, or boarding houses if the tenant has been renting for more than 90 days or has a written lease for more than 90 days. If your rental is not covered by the VRLTA, there may be other state laws that apply to your situation. If you do not know which law applies, you should seek advice from an attorney.

Evictions (including Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs) - Additional Resource - PDF Document

Every tenant has the legal right to live in rental housing unless and until the landlord follows the legal process for eviction. You are a tenant if you pay regular amounts of rent during regular time periods, such as once a month or once a week. You also are a tenant if you have lived in a hotel or motel for more than 90 days, or you are subject to a written lease for a period of more than 90 days. You are not a tenant if you have lived in a hotel or motel for less than 90 days. In this case, the only legal right you have is to receive a five day “pay or quit” notice before your landlord evicts you by self-help without going to court. The following pdf document provides questions and answers about what to do about eviction issues, including lockouts and utility shutoffs.

Fair Housing

Generally, a landlord may rent or refuse to rent for any reason at all – good reason, bad reason, or no reason – as long as it is not a prohibited reason. However, there are exceptions to this rule if you are in a protected class covered by the Fair Housing Law. This document contains information on the Fair Housing Law.

7 NEW LAWS THAT ARE MORE FAIR, FAVORABLE & FRIENDLY TO TENANTS - PDF Document

Starting July 1, 2019, seven new laws will take effect in Virginia. All seven are more fair, favorable and friendly to tenants. They all were passed as a response to the high rate of evictions in Virginia, which are more than two times the national average. In many cities in Virginia, evictions are more than four times the national average. The following pdf provides the seven new laws in more detail.

BASIC VIRGINIA LANDLORD-TENANT LAW

This pdf presentation will provide an overview of the basics of Virginia Landlord-Tenant law.

Eviction by the Sheriff (Writ of Eviction)

You do not have to move simply because a landlord says so orally or in writing, or files a Summons for Unlawful Detainer in court. However, if your landlord gives you proper written notice, files a Summons for Unlawful Detainer, goes to a court hearing, gets an Order of Possession from the court, and gets a “Writ of Possession” from the court, you almost certainly will have to move.

Know Your Rights: A Guide for Tenants Renting in the State of Virginia

Under Virginia Law, tenants have certain rights when they move in, while they are renting, and before they can be evicted. The specific rights you have depend on whether or not your tenancy is covered by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA). You are covered by the VRLTA if you live in an apartment building or in any type of multi-family housing. Multi-family housing means you share heating, hot water, entry and exit, or some other service with another unit in the same building. You also are covered if you live in a single family house and your landlord rents out more than ten single-family homes in a county or more than four single-family homes in a city. Throughout this handout we will tell you what general rights you have as a tenant and specify if there are any differences depending on whether you are covered by the VRLTA.

7 NEW LAWS THAT ARE MORE FAIR, FAVORABLE & FRIENDLY TO TENANTS - PDF Document

Starting July 1, 2019, seven new laws will take effect in Virginia. All seven are more fair, favorable and friendly to tenants. They all were passed as a response to the high rate of evictions in Virginia, which are more than two times the national average. In many cities in Virginia, evictions are more than four times the national average. The following pdf provides the seven new laws in more detail.

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