Full question:
When a tenant is 60 days plus late in rent and served an eviction notice and still refuses to move, what is the next step?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Lease Termination
- Date:
- State: Virginia
Answer:
Landlords must file a “Warrant for Unlawful Detainer” at the appropriate courthouse (General District Court) to request an eviction trial. Both parties will be notified to appear at a hearing within 15 days, but which may be earlier in emergency situations. The judge may hear the case at the hearing or assign a trial date within another 15 days. If either party fails to appear (even at the initial hearing) the judge may assume a lack of caring and issue a judgment against the absent party. At the hearing and/or trial, the tenant has the opportunity to present testimony, receipts, documents, or otherwise offer defense against the requested eviction. A 10-day appeal period follows eviction judgments except in a default judgment for the tenant’s non-payment of rent.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.