Landlord-Tenant Law

I really appreciate Brittany! Her attention to detail was impressive as was the fact that she is very accessible. Here's hoping that I don't need her services again but if I do, she'll be my first call!
Anonymous Review

I have had the pleasure of using this law firm for several years for various legal matters. My appointments were made quickly, the attorneys were professional, and my legal options were explained thoroughly. The spirit of advocacy is abundant at the practice and I so appreciate their help and opinions, no matter what season I am in!
Anonymous Review

Ms. Carper is well versed in the law and an excellent attorney. She helped us through two very difficult legal issues. She was thorough in explaining all of our options and helped us get the best possible outcome. Thank you to Ms. Carper and her tremendous staff.
Anonymous Review

There are at least two sides to every story. Whether you need landlord representation or tenant representation, the attorneys at Goodall, Carper & Dillon, PLLC have you covered with decades of experience and expertise across many common areas of landlord-tenant law.

Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Most landlord-tenant disputes do not immediately escalate to eviction proceedings. There is often a history of conflict between the landlord and the tenant. Landlord-tenant disputes can include a variety of situations such as:

Late rent or missing rental payments
Security deposit disputes
Insufficient notice of the end of the lease term
Early termination of the lease or rental agreement
Unresolved or excessive property maintenance requests
Overall habitability or condition of the property
Other violations of the lease or rental agreement

For even the most dutiful landlord, it’s challenging to enforce the terms of a rental or lease agreement. This is especially true when dealing with difficult tenants. The same applies from the opposite perspective. As a responsible tenant, you also deserve fair representation against a landlord that is unresponsive to maintenance requests, withholding a security deposit without proper justification or exceeding the boundaries of your rental agreement.

Eviction

If landlord-tenant disputes can not be resolved, eviction is the next step. Eviction is the legal action of removing a tenant from a landlord’s property. In Virginia, a landlord cannot remove tenants from their property or cut off utilities without court involvement and approval.

Our law firm can provide support and guidance for landlords that are not sure where to begin with eviction proceedings. We have also represented hundreds of tenants living in the Stafford, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania areas, and advocated for their tenant rights throughout their eviction process. Because our attorneys have been on both sides of the aisle, we can see how your specific situation fits into the complete picture.

Lease and Rental Agreements

Our firm believes in the value of a solid foundation. Lease agreements and rental agreements are no exception. With the help of our landlord-tenant attorneys, you can complete move-in inspections and enter into comprehensive rental agreements with confidence. We can also review existing lease or rental agreements and discuss any potential gaps in template language or insurance coverage.