Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

Nonpayment of rent

If a tenant does not pay the March rent and has been told to vacate the premises by the end of March (notification provided in February), does the Landlord have the right to change the locks before the end of March, due to the fact that the March rent has not been paid ?


Asked on 3/24/04, 10:25 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Nonpayment of rent

No, the landlord has no such right to utilize the self-help measure(changing door locks) to evict a holdover tenant which you have proposed.

Your remedies to effect a lawful eviction of this non-paying tenant are to be found in the general district court by filing a an Unlawful Detainer action and securing the Writ of Possession from the court which will enable you to lawfully recover possession of your rental property.

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Answered on 3/25/04, 8:50 pm


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