A towing operator that has contracted with the landlord of a multi-family dwelling may not tow a vehicle for having an expired registration or inspection sticker without providing 48 hours’ warning through a written notice posted on the vehicle. This notice must include the date of posting, and the towing operator must provide a copy of it to the landlord.
A towing operator who fails to post the correct notice, or who tows a vehicle without allowing proper notice, can be fined up to $100 and will be required to reimburse the vehicle’s owner for any towing, storage, or safekeeping costs.
(This is being reviewed in House Bill 925)in Virginia.
We’ll now shift to House Bill 906 and SB 480, which concern disconnection of service by a public utility for failure to pay. A public utility is one that’s owned and operated by a locality in Virginia.
Public utilities are restricted as follows from disconnecting residential customers for nonpayment of bills and fees:
Electric utilities may not disconnect if, during the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection, the temperature is forecast to be 32°F or below, or 92°F or higher.
Gas utilities may not disconnect if, during the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection, the temperature is forecast to be 32°F or below.
Water and wastewater utilities may not disconnect if, during the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection, the temperature is forecast to be 92°F or higher.
National Weather Service forecasts must be used to establish predicted temperature ranges in the area where the customer is located.
According to HB 906 and SB 480, no utility may disconnect a customer for nonpayment of bills or fees on any of the following days:
Fridays
Weekends
State holidays
Any day that falls before a state holiday
Residential disconnections are also forbidden unless the customer’s account is 45 days in arrears.
The bills require each subject utility to provide customers with a copy of its disconnection policy when service is established and when disconnection for nonpayment is scheduled. The policy must also appear on the utility’s website. All required notices must be in English and Spanish, and must include information about payment plans and energy assistance programs.
Notices of nonpayment must be delivered by at least one of the following methods: mail, email, text message, phone call, or door hanger.
You need to file an “Unlawful Detainer” with the court.
With unlawful detainers, they apply to squatters who occupy a property and claim to hold a lease that might or might not be genuine.
Imagine a scenario in which a property owner tries to get rid of a squatter by claiming trespass. Then, when sheriff’s deputies arrive to remove the squatter, the squatter claims to have a lease. At this point, law enforcement will be unable to remove the squatter, and the dispute becomes a matter for a civil court. A new bill, HB 1482, allows for emergency hearings in unlawful detainer actions of this kind that involve residential, single-family units.
According to HB 1482, an emergency hearing is possible if three conditions apply:
The court finds, based on the evidence, that there is not, nor has there ever been, a rental agreement between the property owner and the defendant.
The defendant is occupying the unit without the owner’s permission.
The owner gave the defendant written notice to vacate the unit at least 72 hours before a summons was filed.
If there are grounds for an emergency hearing, this hearing must take place as soon as practicable, within 14 days of filing. If it’s not possible to hear the case within 14 days of filing, it must be heard within 30 days of filing.
Can my Landlord charge me EFT Charges for rent, security deposit and other amounts payable by a tenant. House Bill 1519 prohibits landlords from charging any fee if a tenant wants to make payments using an EFT. The bill also would have made it a violation of the Consumer Protection Act to impose a fee or surcharge for using an EFT to purchase any good or service, with the exception of ATM service fees or cases where the purpose of the service is to expedite an EFT. We use a program called Appfolio and as a property manager, we are eating the fees as the real estate property management company. Most tenants can also pay with ACH and it does make collecting rent between tenant and landlord a lot easier and timely.
What happens with assault survivors and early Lease termination
We are fortunate that we have not had to deal with this, but the Virginia House Bill 764 changes the circumstances under which survivors of sexual abuse or criminal sexual assault may terminate their leases before they expire. Early termination is now available to survivors who have obtained permanent protective orders and provided appropriate notification. As with earlier versions of the law, a tenant may also terminate early if they have an order of protection, or if the perpetrator has been convicted of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or family abuse.
Notification requirements in this area have also changed. Previously, a tenant’s notice of termination to the landlord had to specify an effective date for the termination that was at least 30 days after the next date when rent was due. Under HB 764, the tenant’s notice of termination simply becomes effective 30 days after it has been served on the landlord. The tenant remains responsible for providing the landlord with a copy of either the order of protection or the conviction order. The tenant will also remain liable for any rent that’s payable before the termination date. Communication is key for all parties.
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.
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.
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia, often referred to simply as Arlington or Arlington, Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. As the nation’s first LEED Platinum certified community, Arlington County is a nationally recognized leader in creating a sustainable and resilient urban environment. There is a long-proven success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing stormwater, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting residents’ health and well-being. With nearby communities in Crystal City, Rosslyn, and Arlington Heights, there are many cultural activities available.
Arlington County has a lot going for it. A solid public-school system, a healthy population, ample nightlife venues and accessible public transit. All of this makes the Northern Virginia county among the best place to live in America, according to a new report dated 2016. Arlington was recognized recently by Niche.Com as the “Best City to Live in America” in 2020. Along with being the home of the Pentagon, the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington National Cemetery, and the United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington County is home to approximately 216,700 people.
The topmost slot to live in Arlington County went to Bluemont, an Arlington suburb home to just under 6,000 people bounded to the north and east by Interstate 66 and North Glebe Road near Ballston. Bluemont received grades of A- or above in nearly every criteria, including public school quality, diversity, family living and jobs — with the notable exception of cost of living, which earned a C+. “Most residents own their homes,” noted Niche’s description for the neighborhood. “In Bluemont, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks.”
There are 3.41 miles from Arlington to Washington in northeast direction and 5 miles (8.05 kilometers) by car, following the US-50 E route. Arlington and Washington are 7 minutes far apart, if you drive non-stop .
Clarendon is an urbanized, upper-class neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia, located between the Rosslyn and Ballston areas. You will find shoppers browsing at Market Common Clarendon and other local favorites, families enjoying a weekend brunch on the patio, and visitors exploring Clarendon’s dining and entertainment. You can also find restaurants here that serve tapas, Balkan cuisine or classic American, plus rooftop and sidewalk dining in warmer months. Clarendon is especially known for lively nightlife, a perfect location for a great date night at any age, and a center of activity for the younger crowd. If you’re looking for fun in the evenings, you’ll always find it in Clarendon. It’s easy to be drawn to Clarendon, a neighborhood that defines urban chill.
Great Falls is in Fairfax County and is one of the best places to live in Virginia. Living in Great Falls offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Great Falls there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks And the public schools in Great Falls are highly rated. Located on Virginia State Route 7 in Northern Virginia, Great Falls is 15 miles (24 km) west-northwest of downtown Washington, D.C. and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) north of Fairfax, the county seat.
The first sight of unrestrained greenery upon heading west into Virginia from Washington, D.C., is the town of Great Falls, a leafy refuge for the power players that brave the Beltway every morning. Here, twisting country lanes converge on a town center with a green, a local coffee shop, and store owners who call their customers by name. Great Falls is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 15,427, an increase of 80.5% from the 2000 census. CNN Money ranked Great Falls first in the nation on its list of “top earning towns” in 2011
These trees, pastures and open space—only 17 miles west of the White House—don’t come cheap. The town has a median real estate price of $1.7 million (homes have sold for $8 million and up), putting it in the top 10 percent of Virginia neighborhoods. One could say it’s the Beverly Hills of the D.C. metro area. But unlike the self-promotion of Rodeo Drive, this town is all about discretion.
Here, despite its resident roster of boldface names, people make an active effort to create a close-knit community, tied together by history and traditions in what some would describe as the often-rootless northern Virginia area. There’s a town square with a white painted gazebo right out of an Andy Hardy movie, a weekly gathering of vintage car enthusiasts and an annual Easter egg hunt with gemstones from a local jewelry store hidden in eggs for a lucky few.
Located along the Potomac River and adjacent to the 800-acre national park of the same name, the village of Great Falls was originally known, unofficially, as Forestville, until it was named in 1955, later including several other small communities in the area after a new post office was built in 1959.
You will certainly want to visit Great Falls Park. Great Falls Virginia is one of the most popular natural destinations in the Washington DC area, visited by locals and tourists from around the world. The Potomac River courses through dramatic waterfalls, rapids, and a narrow gorge at Great Falls Park. The US National Park Service manages this Virginia gem, maintains excellent facilities, and hosts ranger-led events at the park.
At the Great Falls of the Potomac, the river drops 76 feet in less than a mile. At the same time, the banks narrow from 1000 feet wide to only 60 to 100 feet as the river passes through Mather Gorge. The combination of dropping and narrowing as the river passes over jagged rocks creates a dramatic series of waterfalls and rapids. It’s a stunning, and easy to reach slice of nature only 18 miles from busy Washington DC.
Great Falls is part of the George Washington National Parkway, a scenic drive connecting historic sites from here to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
