Let’s talk about some recent changes to Virginia law that affect lease provisions.
House bill 352 and SB 213 amend the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) by altering the language it contains regarding early termination of leases by military personnel. These changes resolved conflicts between Virginia and federal law, and because the bills contain an emergency clause, they became law as soon as the governor signed them.
The new bills state that a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard, may terminate a rental agreement upon receiving either permanent change of station orders or temporary duty orders lasting longer than three months. Previously, the new duty assignment had to be at least 35 miles from the servicemember’s rental unit, but this distance requirement has been removed.
HB 352 and SB 213 add an additional justification for a servicemember breaking their lease early. A servicemember may now terminate a rental agreement if they receive a stop movement order in response to an emergency that is effective for either an indefinite period or a defined period lasting at least 30 days. The emergency must also prevent the servicemember from living in their rental unit.
Communication is always key between the tenant, landlord and or property manager to create a win-win situation for all parties. Mo Wilson is a retired USMC who fought in Vietnam so we are very aware of our service members and how they are called for duty in an ever changing world.
Virginia is for Lovers
Our slogan brings to mind romance, but that isn’t all Virginia is about. We are lovers of mountains, rivers, beaches, wine…every square inch of the state provides an opportunity for a memorable experience, no matter what your interests.
Located midway between New York and Florida, Virginia is in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Commonwealth is bordered by Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, and Maryland to the north; the Atlantic Ocean to the east; North Carolina and Tennessee to the south; and West Virginia and Kentucky to the west. Virginia is a southeastern U.S. state stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains. With historical landmarks including Arlington Cemetery, Monticello, the Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach.
Here in Northern Virginia we have our own easy access to much of the variety and historical monuments of the area. Manassas National Battlefield Park where the historical battle of Bull Run occurred. George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Easy access to all the splendor and National Monuments in Washington D.C. including Arlington Cemetery, the John F. Kennedy grave site, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington memorials, and so many more.
Along with historic sites, Virginia has coastline for fun at nearby beaches like Virginia Beech. Northern Virginia has options such as METRO trains, Metro buses, and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) offering NOVA commuters a variety of transportation options. Schools such as Georgetown University, George Mason University, and Northern Virginia Community College, are in Northern VA. Other well known colleges are within a short distance to NOVA such as UVA, University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, University of Richmond, William & Mary, VPI, James Madison University and many more. Northern Virginia , locally referred as NOVA, sits in the hub of it all.
The area is business driven due to the proximity to the federal government, tech companies, and military bases. Additional employment opportunities in NOVA run from small business to major corporations. NOVA is known for its entrepreneurial spirit and a number of technology based companies such as BioSpace, Lockheed Martin, Micron, SYSUSA, Inc., S.W.I.F.T, and more.
Along with great employment options, communities run from rural to city life. Apartments and condos, to town homes and single family home options. Real Estate options in in the Northern Virginia area is on the upswing. It is a great time to buy or sell in Northern Virginia.
