Virginia Beach tenants are shielded by VRLTA prohibitions on self-help eviction, utility shut-offs, and lockouts. Landlords must use General District Court for any removal, and harassment can void notices.
Under VA Code §55.1-1243, Virginia landlords cannot remove a tenant by changing locks, cutting utilities, or removing belongings outside a court-ordered process. These tactics are categorized as wrongful exclusion or harassment. Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office enforces only writs of possession issued by the General District Court. Tenants subjected to harassment may obtain emergency injunctive relief, recover possession, and seek damages plus attorney fees. Repeated harassment can also influence pending eviction cases by undermining the landlord's good-faith standing.
Self-help lockouts, utility cut-offs, or removal of property outside a court order trigger civil liability, injunctions, and statutory damages under VRLTA §55.1-1243.
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach landlords must follow VA Code §55.1-1226, which caps security deposits at two months of rent and requires return within 45 days of move-out wi...
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Virginia landlord-tenant law (VA Code §55.1-1200 et seq.) allows termination of month-to-month tenancies...
See how Virginia Beach's tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.