Any lawyers familiar with VA law?

[atblis]

This is gun related, because the sooner I get my legal troubles sorted out, the sooner I can go back to buying more guns than I really need.

Specifically rental law.

Basically I am renting a workshop/garage. Not a residence.

I need to know which laws apply to it. It appears that some of VA state law is written specifically for residences.

Some background.

My mother was going to rent a house on the same property as the garage. The land lady proved to be too much (she's French). The lease on the house was to begin August 1st. No lease was signed nor any rental payments made on the house. The land lady agreed to rent to me a garage/workshop on the property. I took possession of the garage beginning June, and have payed for June and July. Due to the situation with the house, I am moving out of the garage.

The garage/workshop was a seperate agreement from the house. My mother was going to be making the payments on house, and I on the garage.

My question is, under what terms can the property owner terminate our rental agreement on the garage. Is she required to give me notice to move out, and if so how long do I have?

There's nothing in writing (big mistake). Basicially we had an agreement to rent the garage to me for $100 dollars per month. That is the only terms we have ever agreed on. She has said many things since then but... I intend on moving out at the end of August. She is threatining to throw me out ASAP.

BTW I never bought into all the French stereotypes/bashing I heard, but after this experience... If somebody gives you a bottle of wine, you don't bring it back half empty, tell them it's crap, and request another bottle. I don't care where you're from. That sh*t doesn't fly in this country.

 

[Bubbles]

IANA lawyer, but while a resident of VA I rented out rooms in my house for a while.

Short answer - you're screwed. Do not leave anything you don't care to lose in the garage. Without a signed contract or lease you are SOL. A lease would normally define the terms of termination for both parties.

IF you paid her with a personal check you MIGHT win in court if she put your stuff out on the curb for trash pickup. Maybe. Personally I'd be over there packing right now.

 

[countertop]

What does this have to do with guns?

Are you using the garage as your residence? Have you paid her the $100 already? Have you paid her for past months? If you've been paying $100 a month for some time, then your a bit better off. When did she tell you she wanted more? How much more does she want? Seems to me it would be easier to just pay her that for August and then get your stuff out ASAP if you cant get it out today.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Not gun-related, but ...

The woman OWNS a garaage. You do NOT have a lease or other document conveying to you any right to be in HER garage.

Get packing.

 

[atblis]

Well

I talked to a lawyer (my school has a lawyer for students for whatever they need).

I do realize there's a big difference between what's legal, and what can actually happen. All valuables are being stored elsewhere.

As it turns out I am not screwed at all in the legal sense.

You can have a rental agreement without a lease and the eviction procedures are similar. The fact that I've taken possession of the garage and she has accepted rent payments establishes that we have a montly rental agreement.

Basicially, either party has to give a 30 day notice of termination. The only way she can speed this up is if I were to fail to pay the rent. Even in that case, it is about 28 days before anybody can do anything to my stuff legally. Legally she isn't allowed to do anything to me. Everything is supposed to go through the courts. Even better, if she tries to deny me access or take any other such actions, I can contact the Sheriffs department and they will help me gain access (cut locks). The only caveats regarding the Sheriffs department is that I need to be able to prove that am indeed renting the place. This is no longer a problem as I now a have a receipt of payment, paid with a personal check.