Tenant abandoned the lease, what's str my option
Hello,
one of my tenant stop paying rent last month and when i sent him "pay or quit " notice, he took out most of his belongings and left the apartment. He had not responded to my texts or emails in past 2 months. I will be working to filing the Unlawful retainer on Tuesday, which may take almost 1 month to get possession.
It seems like he had abandoned the lease, what are my options at this time to get possession sooner? Is there anything i can do in virginia to expedite the process?
Most Popular Reply
Checking Virginia law, it seems you cannot infer they have left based on what you put in your note. You either have to get the courts to grant you possession or you need written confirmation from the tenant. If the courts are going to take a long time, it is worth it to offer "cash for keys".
I would send an email to your tenant with a provocative headline like "Can I give you $100 for 2 minutes of your time?" Then promise to give them $100 of their security deposit back if they simply email you that they have moved out and relinquish possession of the unit.
And as much as I hate offering cash to deadbeats who steal, you should follow up on your end of the agreement.