Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

I had a verbal agreement with a lady to share her townhouse with her. After several requests from me for her to produce a lease, she advised that she would get to it when she could. It was verbally agreed that I would move in at the end of Jan 2011. In preparation for that move she gave me permission to store boxes in her attic. On move-in day, when my moving truck pulled up, she told me that she wasn't ready for me (as she was having her place painted) and I'd have to come another day. With no place to go, I was forced to rent an apartment and have since moved in there. My boxes are still in her attic and she is now trying to charge me $120 in 'storage fees' before I can remove them. What recommendations do you have?


Asked on 2/07/11, 1:52 pm

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

This lady landlord appears to be in material violation of the terms of your (oral) lease.

And, therefore, you could file what's called a Warrant in Detinue against her at the clerk's office of your local general district court (civil division) for the

return of your personal property and if for whatever reason it cannot be returned,

then you could request that a judgment be entered against her for its fair market value plus whatever costs/damages that you've incurred as a result of her actions.

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Answered on 2/07/11, 2:42 pm


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