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.
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.