Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Hopewell

Find the right Tenant attorney in Hopewell, VA

Tenant Law in Virginia

In Hopewell, Virginia, relationships between tenants and landlords can occasionally become strained.

Both parties to a landlord/tenant relationship are controlled by an extensive body of laws and regulations, defining their legal rights and obligations.

Landlord's Rights in Hopewell, VA

The most basic right that landlords have is the right to be paid the agreed-upon rent by their tenant. Obviously, renting apartments is how landlords earn a living, so they are entitled to collect the rent that the tenant agreed to pay.

Landlords also have a right to be paid for damage to the building that a tenant causes, either intentionally or negligently. All damage caused by a tenant, besides reasonable wear and tear, can be billed, and the landlord can deduct from the tenant's security deposit to pay for repairs.

Tenant's Rights in Hopewell, VA

Most essentially, tenants have a right to get what they're paying for: a dwelling fit for human habitation. To this end, landlords have to confirm that the units they rent meet Hopewell, Virginia's minimum standards for habitability. These requirements are usuallyy not difficult to meet. They include basic amenities such as running water, electricity, a working phone line, heating, and protection from the elements.

Furthermore, tenants are entitled to common areas which are reasonably safe and clean, and free of physical obstacles. Areas such as lobbies, hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes must comply with the building codes of Hopewell, Virginia. Furthermore, any other unreasonable safety hazard, even if it doesn't violate a specific provision of a building code, can create liability for the landlord if it injures a tenant.

Tenants also have rights, under federal and Virginia law, to not be victims of racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination in housing, whether they are renting or buying. Furthermore, landlords are not allowed to discriminate against tenants based on physical disabilities. They must also allow physically-disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible. Nonetheless, the landlord can require tenants to remove those modifications and restore the property to its original condition once the tenant moves out.

Lastly, tenants in most states have a right to be free from unfair eviction. Generally, lease agreements last for a set period of time, and both parties are bound by that contract. Landlords cannot arbitrarily evict clients while the lease is still in effect.

Can a Hopewell, Virginia Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Tenants and landlords always want to avoid getting into any serious disputes - these disputes interfere with the tenant's living arrangement, and the landlord's business. In short, they help nobody. While a good Hopewell, Virginia attorney can definately help his or her client prevail in such a dispute, they may be more essential for their ability to help prevent such disputes from escalating in the first place.

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Life in Hopewell

Hopewell is found in the Tri-Cities area of Virginia and is incorporated into the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical area. The city is home to 24,000 suburban residents who live on a bluff overlooking the James River and Appomattox River. The city was developed by the DuPont Company in 1914 which manufactured dynamite, however, during World War I the factory switched to creating guncotton for soldiers and allies. Hopewell was burnt nearly to the ground in 1915 but rose from the ashes and quickly rebuild with help from local companies. The Tubize Corporation established a plant in Hopewell in 1923.

Today the city's manufacturing plants are primarily focused on chemical processing with large corporations like Honeywell, Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, and Hercules Chemical providing the bulk of employment in the area. The City Point Historical District of Hopewell offers outstanding lodging and culinary accommodations but many flock to see the collection of Sears Catalog Homes. Sever of them are available for self guided tours. Lawyers and firm offices are also located in Hopewell. Hopewell lawyers take a diverse selection of cases and are well acquainted with advising their clients on local courts as well.   

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