Housing Law

OVERVIEW

In these hard economic times, it is especially important that the rights of renters and home purchasers be protected.  VPLC’s housing law attorney works on numerous issues including: relations between landlords and tenants, relations between sellers and buyers of dwellings, land use issues (zoning, subdivision ordinances, etc.), property ownership disputes, lending practices, government housing programs, exercise of imminent domain and numerous other matters related to residential real property.

ADVOCACY

VPLC lobbies the Virginia legislature for changes to landlord tenant law that will help low-income tenants avoid homelessness and collaborates with various other stakeholders to identify systems improvements to increase affordable and accessible housing across Virginia

TRAINING

Through its exchange of the latest information by training for legal aid staff and pro bono attorneys, VPLC helps renters know what they can do to relate with landlords to the benefit of both parties, helping to address problems or to avoid potential problems before they get out of hand.
VPLC provides advice on issues such as security deposits, lease terms, late fees and how a tenant can defend himself or herself against an eviction action.

REPRESENTATION

For assistance, call the local legal aid office that serves your area or call 1-866-534-5243 to be connected with your local legal aid office. As a statewide support organization for local legal aid programs and their staff, we do not generally handle individual cases except when asked to act as co-counsel with a legal aid attorney. On a case-by-case basis, however, VPLC may be available to provide direct legal representation in matters involving complicated or innovative legal issues.