Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

unwanted guests

a short term stay in my apartment by a family member has grown into over two months. They will not leave so I packed all their things, labeling the boxes and set it outside in area they could easily acess. Was I required to give them notice, they paid no money for stay, utilities etc. Also there are a few remaining items still indoors and they are demanding immediate acess to get them. Do I have the right to name a reasonable time of day for them to come versus to the middle fo the night like they want. NO verbal agreements were made for their stay, just that this was to be transitional. Can I be in any trouble for handling it this way. All former requests for them to respect my property was totally ignored.


Asked on 10/17/05, 11:06 pm

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

Re: unwanted guests

Give the freeloaders their items ASAP (whether it's the middle of the night or whatever) in order to avoid action by them against you for withholding their property.(It's called a Warrant in Detinue.)

You are not required to give them notice to leave your premises. If they attempt to remain

without your permission they're little more than trespassers who can be taken into custody and charged as such by local law enforcement, if necessary.

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Answered on 10/17/05, 11:58 pm


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