How can I force my landlord to make necessary repairs, such as if the furnace is not working in the winter or there is an infestation of rodents?
If your landlord is subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, you have the right to file an action, called a Tenants Assertion, to bring these issues before a judge. To do so, you must first provide written notice to the landlord of what the problems are and what you expect him to do about them. If the problems have not been remedied after reasonable notice, then you must pay your rent to the court within five days of when it is due. In Virginia, if you fail to pay the rent to the court or to the landlord, the landlord will be entitled to evict you no matter how bad the conditions are. You may want to speak with a lawyer to determine whether this remedy is available to you and how to proceed. In all cases it can help to contact your local code enforcement office. In Fairfax County check out: Neighborhood Concerns.
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