Landlord-Tenant Dispute Attorneys in Fairfax

Experienced Landlord and Tenant Advocacy in Virginia

A person’s right to use and enjoy their property, to the full extent contemplated by the nature of their interest in the property, is important in both the real world and real estate law. Understandably, not everyone can be a landowner. However, those who are either unwilling or unable to purchase an ownership interest in real estate may enter into an agreement to lease a landowner’s property to obtain and exercise certain possessory rights. These arrangements are governed by the terms of the lease and the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, as appropriate.

Unfortunately, as a result of poorly-drafted leases and disagreements about the rights and responsibilities of the parties, lease arrangements do not always work as intended. Often, the issue involves a tenant’s failure to pay rent, as agreed, but more nuanced issues arise when there is a difference in opinion regarding maintenance responsibilities. If you are a party to a legal dispute between a landowner and one of their lessees, you should call Keithley Law, PLLC to consult one of our skilled landlord-tenant dispute attorneys in Fairfax about your case. Our legal team at Keithley Law, PLLC has decades of combined legal experience with various real estate matters, including disputes between a landlord and their tenants.

Call Keithley Law, PLLC at (703) 454-5147 for Expert Landlord-Tenant Dispute Guidance in Fairfax.

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities

A typical lease grants limited property rights to a lessee in exchange for their promise to pay rents. Leases can come in different “shapes and sizes,” so to speak. Leases can vary with respect to the length of time for which a landlord grants a tenant the exclusive right to possess and use the property (typically a year) and the conditions that will terminate the tenant’s leasehold rights (the expiration of a fixed lease term or violation of the lease).

A residential lease implies certain warranties regarding the property’s habitability, and these tenant protections can be found in the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, among other sources, including housing codes. Commercial leases can involve any number of conditions relevant to all aspects of the tenant’s leasehold interests in the property and are less heavily regulated than residential leases. However, when a landlord-tenant dispute arises, it is best for the parties to find a quick solution to their conflict to minimize the ensuing damages that either or both of them might sustain.

The legal team at Keithley Law, PLLC is committed to providing comprehensive counsel regarding the following landlord-tenant issues:

Breach of rental agreement: A party’s breach of a lease agreement may trigger legal remedies, including an order returning possession of a property to the landlord and a judgment for unpaid rent or damages to the rental unit.
Tenant’s Assertion Litigation: The tenant’s assertion is the tenant’s primary remedy, under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and, under certain circumstances, allows a tenant to pay rent directly to the court, as opposed to the landlord, until disputes regarding maintenance and repairs are resolved.
Indemnification for tortious damage to property: Many lease agreements contain a provision that requires a tenant to indemnify the landlord from liability in the event the tenant’s negligence causes damage to nearby property.
Subletting rights and limitations: Residential lease agreements limit or completely restrict the tenant’s right to further rent the property to others.
Building code compliance and violations: Residential and commercial properties must comply with applicable safety and building code regulations. Violations may result in penalties and can sometimes excuse the other party’s failure to pay rent, among other contractual obligations.
Habitability issues: The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act imposes an implied warranty of habitability for residential properties used for rental purposes. Breach of this implied warranty may serve as the basis for a claim of constructive eviction, which can relieve a tenant of further obligation under a lease based on the theory that the tenant is not receiving the benefits associated with adequate housing.
Eviction and unlawful detainer: The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act establishes specific procedures to terminate a tenant’s interests in the rental property. Compliance with these procedures is crucial to successfully evict a tenant and dispossess them of their rights to the rental property, and cases are often dismissed based on technical issues with notice and service, among other issues.

Resolve Your Fairfax Lease Disputes with Keithley Law, PLLC

Whether you are a residential or commercial landowner or lessee, your rights as a party to a lease agreement deserve adamant protection and staunch advocacy. At Keithley Law, PLLC, our attorneys have the necessary skill and sophisticated knowledge of landlord-tenant laws to help ensure you reach a fair and reasonable solution to your legal issues. You can count on us to provide personalized legal solutions backed by decades of combined legal experience practicing landlord-tenant law.

Contact Keithley Law, PLLC online today or call our office at (703) 454-5147 to set up an initial consultation with an experienced attorney today.

The Opinions That Matter

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If I could extend a rating beyond the maximum of 5 stars, I would gladly do so.
“If I could extend a rating beyond the maximum of 5 stars, I would gladly do so. Following my initial consultation with Ms. Soo, I engaged the legal services of Ms. Dawn, both of whom exhibit a remarkable depth of expertise within the realm of family law. Over the past year, their collective commitment to securing a fair and equitable custody agreement has endowed me with a profound understanding of Virginia's custody laws.

Ms. Dawn has consistently demonstrated unwavering dedication to my case, ensuring seamless guidance from its inception to its resolution. Her responsiveness to my legal inquiries has been exceptional, often addressing them with remarkable promptness. Simultaneously, Ms. Soo has remained well-versed in the particulars of my case, delivering unparalleled representation within the courtroom.

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude for facilitating a safe and harmonious environment for my daughter. While it is customary for negotiations to leave parties with varying degrees of satisfaction, I firmly believe that the outcome achieved could not have been more favorable. Thank you immensely for your invaluable assistance!”

- Jamius V.
Thank you so much for sharing your information on the internet.
“Thank you so much for sharing your information on the internet. I have been with the same man for 35 years - high school sweethearts. I have tried so hard for so long, and slowly over the past year and a half, I was doing what your site recommends - taking time during the silence to read, journal, reflect and work on myself. THEN I found your page "Narcissism, Stonewalling, & Ghosting". THANK YOU so much for sharing the details you've gleaned over your career and compiling them in such a clear, concise manner! This page describes my relationship to a T! Your site pulls together all the signs, and symptoms I have been slowly connecting, but with your help, I now have a better description of the personality I'm married to.”

- Anonymous
Saving Grace!
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Gentle pacing when needed. Patience and excellent listening skills have really been a saving grace.
”

- Former Client
Thank you so much for your kindness and wonderful guidance through difficult times.
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Dawn and Soo are great attorneys who give you support, empathy, prompt advice with experience and knowledge. Customer service from the office is also superb. Thank you so much for your kindness and wonderful guidance through difficult times.
”

- Former Client
I am very happy that Mr. Thompson took the time to hear my "elevator pitch" and chronology about what my issues were without interruption or tangential questions.
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I am very happy that Mr. Thompson took the time to hear my "elevator pitch" and chronology about what my issues were without interruption or tangential questions. He further demonstrated that he is very detail-oriented and made some very good points I hadn't considered with my case.
”

- Former Client
I felt the attorney had useful knowledge of the Virginia Landlord tenant law.
“
I felt the attorney had useful knowledge of the Virginia Landlord tenant law. He was able to help me decide which path might be the best to take, given many clear options. Thanks!
”

- Former Client
All were very professional yet very friendly where this can be a very hard mix to find in lawyers this firm had an impressive dynamic.
“
Soo Keithley and Dawn Rogan-Titus were an inspiration to me as they helped direct me through the divorce procedure. They both knew how to handle a controversial divorce and guided me in the process of what to expect. Divorce is a very emotional time for anyone and to know that your lawyer will do anything to help you is refreshing. They were always honest and upfront with my questions even if the answer was not what I wanted to hear. Their legal team worked well together and complemented each other. All were very professional yet very friendly where this can be a very hard mix to find in lawyers this firm had an impressive dynamic. Thank you to Soo, Dawn, and your team for helping me through this excruciating time in my life.
”

- Former Client
Gave me helpful advice!
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The attorney was frank and gave me helpful advice.
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Took the time to answer my questions!
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I just met with Henry Thompson II, who helped me think through my complex and highly emotional family law case. He gave me helpful advice and took the time to answer my questions as well. When the consultation appointment ended, I felt like I had a good sense of how to proceed, both practically and as far as my mindset. Thank you very much! My case is one that shows that it's better to retain legal counsel early in the process rather than waiting year after year to pass.
”

- Hope G.

Why Choose Keithley Law, PLLC?

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We Listen to Your Concerns
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