Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

Re: Provisions for breaking lease without penalty

The key question in your situation is whether the crime and threats are in any way the landlord's responsibility, such as not creating a safe situation. There are grounds for breaking a lease if the landlord does not deliver what was promised, an apartment fit for habitation. It must be done very carefully, however, and you should not do anything without carefully checking the law. However, in your situation, the problem is that normally criminal activity is the fault of a THIRD-party, the criminals. The landlord is normally not to blame for what third parties do. So the question here is whether there is anything that the landlord actually did to create the situation or make the place unsafe. You would have to tie it to the landlord's actions or inactions. I would definitely check with your local city or county, however, as their regulatory authority over landlords for residential living may be more stringent than general Virginia law, and they may be able to pressure the landlord.

Re: Provisions for breaking lease without penalty

I know of no statute or provision under Title 55 or other relevant sections of the Va. Code which would allow a tenant to disavow a lease with impunity based upon the facts and the scenario which you've described.

The above means that you must meet the landlord's demand for payment if you want an early out of your lease.