Virginia Official Summons for Unlawful Detainer

After The Notice Has Been Served

After a tenant has been given the appropriate notice for the specific violation of their lease agreement, then the landlord can use the Official Summons for Unlawful Detainer. This form is used when the tenant has not complied with the demands of the notice to pay the amount of rent that was owed, cure the violation or leave the property in the given period of time.

This form is filed with the clerk of the General District Court with the appropriate fees. It initiates the formal legal eviction process and will result in a hearing. At this hearing the landlord and the tenant or representatives for both must be present for a decision to be made.

Reasons to Evict A Tenant

The reasons that landlords have problems with their tenants vary, but can be remedied with the formal processes laid out by the law for eviction. A landlord can begin the process of evicting a tenant when the tenant has:
• Not paid the amount of rent that is owed,
• Taken part in illegal or criminal activity,
• Had too many other residents staying at the property,
• Had too many pets at the property,
• Has not maintained the appropriate health and safety standards.

The Process

Even before using this form and beginning the formal process, landlords need to go through a few steps to ensure the tenant has been given the chance to cure their violation or leave the property.

The process is as follows:
• The landlord must give the tenant a notice that describes the violation, lays out the terms of curing the violation or vacating the property and provides a timeline.
• The landlord must wait the prescribed period of time.
• If the tenant has not complied with the demands of the notice then the landlord may file the Official Summons for Unlawful Detainer.
• A hearing will be held that requires both parties or representatives of each to be present.
• If a ruling is made in favor of the landlord then eviction will take place forcibly with the help of local law enforcement.

More Information

Landlords can get the expert advice needed and insider tips from the experts at EZ Landlord Forms by going to: https://www.ezlandlordforms.com/articles/educational/4/move-out-and-eviction/

Landlords can also find more specific information about the laws and regulations for both parties by reading the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Virginia Rental Forms and Templates

• Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay or Vacate: This notice is required before a Landlord may initiate eviction proceedings. This is for Tenants that violate the Lease Agreement by not paying rent.
• Virginia 21/30 Day Notice to Cure or Vacate: This form can be used for Tenants that break the Lease for reasons other than nonpayment of rent. It provides details about the Lease violation and notifies Tenant to cure the violation within 21 days or vacate within 30 days.
• Virginia Official Summons for Unlawful Detainer: This is the official summons for unlawful detainer that Virginia Landlords use to initiate an eviction.
• Virginia Landlord-Tenant Act & Handbook: This resource provides Landlords with the complete Virginia Landlord-Tenant Act and outlines all rights of both parties.

We’ve got tools and forms for the entire Landlord Lifecycle. Join our community to make your Landlord Life EZ.

Become a Pro Member