Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Virginia

Slum lord

In November 2001 I moved out of the slum! Among a few things I endured was being locked out of my building locked IN my building do to an inop front lock on a lit exit. I did call the fire department to complain. I'm a young white single female living on the first floor and at no time during that year did I have a properly working patio lock. My front door lock was inop. I told them at 7:30 am.m and when I came home at 1:00 for lunch there was NO LOCK AT ALL on my front door. The elevators ALWAYS got stuck between floors with people in them. My security key wouldn't work. The security doors were rarely working. The building was never locked. Bums slept in the halls during the winter months. I made svc calls about my sink backing up so badly that my cabinets and carpets were SOAKED. When I asked the maintenance manager about it he told me to clean them and bill the apartment. When I moved I gave notice which they said I did not and they with held a portion of my security deposit. When going to the pool they'd close early because the lifeguard would leave even though they were supposed to be open for another hour. I want to go to court. Help me.


Asked on 5/29/02, 10:46 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Slum lord

There are a number of unanswered questions for your situation, such as what kind of lease or

rental arrangement you were under and was it

governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord

Tenant Act(VRLTA) or the statutory provisions of the common law?

How much of your deposit was retained by the landlord and did they follow the required legal

procedures in order to retain this part of your

deposit? Did you keep a copy of your letter giving the landlord notice of your intent to vacate the premises? Also, did you keep a record of your expenditures in performing maintenance which was supposed to be handled by the landlord?

These are some of the questions that need to be answered in order to determine whether it may

be feasible for you to pursue legal action for

the return of the portion of your security deposit which your former landlord decided to retain.

Read more
Answered on 5/30/02, 12:10 am


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