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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73723</law_id><section_number>55.1-1230</section_number><catch_line>Access following entry of certain court orders</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Rental Conveyances</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Tenant Obligations</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> or <span class="dictionary">authorized occupant</span> who has obtained an order from a court pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection B of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc" href="/20-103/">20-103</a> granting such <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> to the exclusion of one or more co-<span class="dictionary">tenants</span> or <span class="dictionary">authorized occupants</span> may provide the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> with a copy of that <span class="dictionary">court order</span> and request that the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> either (i) install a new lock or other security devices on the exterior doors of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> at the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s actual cost or (ii) permit the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> or <span class="dictionary">authorized occupant</span> to do so, provided that: <a id="paragraph-265141" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1230/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Installation of the new lock or security devices does no permanent damage to any part of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span>; and <a id="paragraph-265142" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1230/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A duplicate copy of all keys and instructions for the operation of all devices are given to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>.
				Upon termination of the tenancy, the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> shall be responsible for payment to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> of the reasonable costs incurred for the removal of all such devices installed and repairs to all damaged areas. <a id="paragraph-265143" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1230/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is not a <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> or <span class="dictionary">authorized occupant</span> of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> and who has obtained an order from a court pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a> or subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc" href="/20-103/">20-103</a> granting such <span class="dictionary">person</span> <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> to the exclusion of one or more co-<span class="dictionary">tenants</span> or <span class="dictionary">authorized occupants</span> may provide a copy of such order to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> and submit a <span class="dictionary">rental application</span> to become a <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> of such <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> within 10 days of the entry of such order. If such <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">rental application</span> meets the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> selection criteria, such <span class="dictionary">person</span> may become a <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> of such <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> under a written <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>. If such <span class="dictionary">person</span> submits a <span class="dictionary">rental application</span> and does not meet the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> selection criteria, such <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall vacate the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> no later than 30 days after the date the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> <span class="dictionary">gives</span> such <span class="dictionary">person</span> <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> that his <span class="dictionary">rental application</span> has been rejected. If such <span class="dictionary">person</span> does not provide a copy of the protective order to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> and submit a <span class="dictionary">rental application</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> within 10 days as required by this section, such <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall vacate the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> no later than 30 days after the date of the entry of such order. Such <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall be liable to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> for failure to vacate the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> as required in this section.
			Any <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> obligated on a <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> shall pay the <span class="dictionary">rent</span> and otherwise comply with any and all requirements of the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> and any applicable <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations. The <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may pursue all of its remedies under the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> and applicable <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations, including filing an <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Summons for unlawful detainer issued by magistrate or clerk or judge of a general district court" href="/8.01-126/">8.01-126</a> to obtain a money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> and to evict any <span class="dictionary">persons</span> residing in such <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span>. <a id="paragraph-265144" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1230/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> who has received a copy of a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> in accordance with subsection A shall not provide copies of any keys to the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> excluded from the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> by such order. <a id="paragraph-265145" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1230/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> This section shall not apply when the <span class="dictionary">court order</span> excluding a <span class="dictionary">person</span> was issued <span class="dictionary">ex parte</span>. <a id="paragraph-265146" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1230/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2005, cc. 735, 825, &#xA7; 55-248.18:1; 2016, c. 595; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
