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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85283</law_id><section_number>55.1-1252</section_number><catch_line>Recovery of possession limited</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-1311</reference></referred_to_by><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="5">Landlord Remedies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may not recover or take <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> (i) by willful diminution of services to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> by interrupting or causing the interruption of an <span class="dictionary">essential service</span> required by the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> or (ii) by refusal to permit the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> access to the unit unless such refusal is pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> for <span class="dictionary">possession</span>.</p></section></text><history>1974, c. 680, &#xA7; 55-248.36; 1978, c. 520; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
