                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

WHO MAY RECOVER RENT OR POSSESSION (§ 55.1-1417)

Notwithstanding any rule of court to the contrary, (i) any person licensed under
the provisions of § 54.1-2106.1, (ii) any property manager or the managing
agent of a landlord as defined in § 55.1-1200 pursuant to the written property
management agreement, or directors, or by a manager, a general partner, or a
trustee, of a partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company,
limited partnership, professional corporation, professional limited liability
company, registered limited liability partnership, registered limited liability
limited partnership, business trust, or family trust to sign pleadings as the
agent of the business entity, may obtain a judgment (a) for possession in the
general district court for the county or city in which the premises, or part
thereof, is situated or (b) for rent or damages, including actual damages for
breach of the rental agreement, or for final rent and damages under § 8.01-128,
in any general district court where venue is proper under Chapter 5 (§ 8.01-257
et seq.) of Title 8.01, against any defendant if the person seeking such
judgment had a contractual agreement with the landlord to manage the premises
for which rent or possession is due and may prepare, execute, file, and have
served on other parties in any general district court a warrant in debt,
suggestion for summons in garnishment, garnishment summons, order of possession,
writ of eviction, or writ of fieri facias arising out of a landlord-tenant
relationship. However, the activities of any such person in court shall be
limited by the provisions of § 16.1-88.03. However, nothing shall be construed
as preventing a nonlawyer from requesting relief from the court as provided by
law or statute when such nonlawyer is before the court on one of the actions
specified herein.

HISTORY: 1983, c. 8, § 55-246.1; 1989, c. 612; 1998, c. 452; 2003, cc. 665,
667; 2004, cc. 338, 365; 2010, c. 550; 2013, c. 563; 2015, c. 190; 2018, c. 221;
2019, cc. 180, 477, 700, 712.