Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

I turned in my 60 day notice to my apartment the first week of August and my lease is up October 29. In September they sent me a letter (after I submitted me 60 day notice) indicating that I owed $300 by Sept 24 for having a dog in my apartment. My girlfriend went out of town for a week back in May and asked me to keep her dog while she was gone. During that week maintenance came to my apartment on a routine visit and discovered there was a dog in my apartment. My lease indicates that if I break the pet terms of my lease they can charge me the total deposit dating from the beginning of my lease. My lease is only a 6 month lease however they are stating they are charging me for 12 months. Can they really charge me for 12 months or are the only supposed to charge me for 6 months? Also I have proof that it is not my dog. My girlfriend has a copy of her lease that indicates that the dog is hers and that she has paid her pet deposit at her apt for it. They also told me that they were informed in late August that there was a dog in my apartment and that's why they are charging me however I signed a new lease Aug 1and I have a copy of the lease that I signed that would prove that I moved into my new apt August 1 and that I am no longer occupying my old apt during the date in August they are accusing me of having the dog. What can I do?

Asked on 9/16/10, 2:58 pm

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

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0 attorneys agreed

Best have an attorney review the lease at issue and the attendant relevant facts

and who can then advise you, accordingly.

Answered on 9/21/10, 5:11 pm

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