Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

I had a person move into my house and it was agreed that he would pay $400 a month as well as a little extra towards the amount of money I loaned him. Was under the illusion that his job as a video game tester would pay him 'soon'. But in the mean time he needed a lot of things to get back on his feet. I got items of his out of the pawn shop so that he could continue working as a game tester. Needles to say 3 and a half months later still no paycheck and out of all the money loaned and 3 months of rent due barely $350 was given to me. I did not ask him to leave but one day after re pawning off all electronics that I took out he left and did not come back. He also left his dog locked up in a small cage. Since he has been gone for 2 weeks we have put up eviction notes as that was the advice we got from the local police. We've been trying to go to the court house but have yet to go file papers....its more of a car issue hopefully that will change this week. What am wondering is what papers to file? So far I was told 3 warrants....one would be for unlawful detainer as he still has his stuff here. But he has already left and really has no intention to come back. second would be warrant in debt for the rent we agreed on and on the cash I gave him, third would be warrant in detinue for the items that I took out of pawn shop and as well as video games that he sold while still living here that were my husbands. From what I was told by the police is that I can't file a police report for those items since we let him borrow the games once then he returned them and since we lived together. I've been trying to figure out what I need so any help would be greatly appreciated. This guy claims to have no money but he does have a job just gets paid under the table. So that he can't get any money taken away from child support. It is a touchy issue but I would at least like to get some of my money or at least some of the items from him.


Asked on 8/29/11, 1:27 pm

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

Game tester, indeed. Looks like this fellow has been profitably testing the only game in town that pays out anything, i.e., namely you.

Furthermore, as this game tester has apparently departed for parts unknown,

I see no point whatsoever in filing the various warrants in the local general district court that you've mentioned in the local as apparently no summonses could be served upon his person nor other notices of any lawsuits that you might file against him.

Keep your fingers crossed that he'll keep heading in the direction that he originally departed towards and that you will never have to lay eyes on his shifty-eyed and duplicitous countenance again.

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Answered on 8/29/11, 6:26 pm


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