Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

I found out a few weeks after signing a lease with 2 women that they have moved the older woman's son into the unit also; I sent a lease application for him to fill out so I would know something about this person. The unit they are leasing is a condo unit where at least 60% of the residents are owners. In the mean time, I was informed by the property manager, who was alerted by one of the other residents, that this person is on the sex offender registry. I have spoken to his P.O. and I don't think the guy is particularly dangerous, but he failed to disclose on the lease application his sex offender status, and about 3 other convictions he has on his record over the past few years. So there is a conspiracy here to deceive and given the opportunity to tell the truth they (he) chose not to. SO, can I be held liable should something major go wrong there? And do I need to write a letter to all of these tenants informing them that I know of their deceit on the application, and agree to let them remain �With Reservation".


Asked on 11/08/10, 3:19 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Yes, (in my opinion) you could be held liable in regard to this

currently "unleased " intervenor formally listed as a registered

sex offender(which you now know) and who is now apparently occupying(with your knowledge), your rental unit, and who may be capable of perpetrating crimes in the future to which some not too ingenious personal injury lawyer may somehow find a chain of liability leading to your doorstep, so to speak.

You would be well advised to give all these tenants notice that they must immediately vacate the premises( without reservation) due to their material violation of the terms of the lease (because if all of them are not evicted, the sex offender is likely to return---whether you know it or not--and with possible serious adverse consequences to your future happiness on planet Earth--again, in my opinion).

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Answered on 11/13/10, 9:18 pm


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