Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

My friend has been renting a room in a house with 5 other people in it for about a year. She is not on the lease but has been paying rent and has a verbal agreement with the landlord and the other roommates. For a few months she has been keeping her stuff there including her bed and all her other belongings except a few pair of clothes however she has been sleeping and essentially living elsewhere. For the past few months her roommates have not asked her for utilities because she is not using them at all. This month however they used significantly more of the utilities and have asked her to pay a share of them. She has refused because her usage is still non existent. The roommate who has her name on the lease has told her that if she does not pay a share of the bills then she will be forced out of the house by February 29th. Because she has all her things there, has lived there and up to this point has been paying rent and or bills as per their agreement is she still considered a legal resident even though she is not on the lease? And does that mean that this type of action would not be possible without an eviction notice?

Asked on 1/29/12, 10:02 am

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

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Would seem to depend upon the enforceability of the oral

lease agreement, particularly, with respect as to her obligation

under this lease to pay her share of the utilities.

Answered on 1/29/12, 11:05 am

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