Fairfax County tenants are protected from landlord harassment and retaliation under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Self-help lockouts, utility shutoffs, and retaliatory rent hikes are prohibited under Virginia Code Section 55.1-1258.
The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants who exercise legal rights such as filing code complaints, joining tenant organizations, or asserting fair housing claims. Virginia Code Section 55.1-1258 bans retaliatory rent increases, lease nonrenewals, and service reductions for one year after protected activity. Self-help measures including lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removal of doors or windows are independently illegal under Virginia Code Section 55.1-1243. Fairfax County Tenant-Landlord Commission provides mediation and information services.
Tenants can sue in Fairfax County General District Court for actual damages, recovery of possession, statutory damages, and attorney fees under Virginia Code Section 55.1-1243 and Section 55.1-1258.
See how Herndon's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
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