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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66681</law_id><section_number>43-20</section_number><catch_line>Extent of lien where owner has less than fee in land</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>43-3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="43">Mechanics' and Certain Other Liens</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Mechanics' and Materialmen's Liens</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Subject to the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Lien for work done and materials furnished; waiver of right to file or enforce lien" href="/43-3/">43-3</a>, if the person who shall cause a building or structure to be erected or repaired owns less than a fee simple estate in the land, then only his interest therein shall be subject to <span class="dictionary">liens</span> created under this chapter. When the vendee under a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for the sale of real estate causes a building or structure to be erected or repaired on the land which is the subject of the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> and the owner has actual knowledge of such erection or repairs, the interest of the owner in the land shall be subject to <span class="dictionary">liens</span> created under this chapter; and for the purposes of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Priorities between mechanics' and other liens" href="/43-21/">43-21</a>, the interest of such an owner in the land, to the extent of the unpaid purchase price, shall be deemed to be a recorded purchase money deed of trust <span class="dictionary">lien</span> created at the time the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> of sale was fully executed. As used in this section, &#x201C;a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> for the sale of real estate&#x201D; shall not include a lease of real estate containing an option to purchase the leased real estate or an option to purchase real estate unless the option is enforceable against the optionee.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 6436; 1924, p. 413; 1968, c. 568; 1980, c. 574.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
