Virginia Commercial Lease Enforcement

My name is Matthias. I’m an attorney with over a decade of experience, including several years litigating commercial lease enforcement actions (unlawful detainers) throughout Virginia on behalf of several of the largest commercial landlords in the United States.

A lease is a document that sets out the terms upon which the landlord (who owns the property) will allow the tenant (who rents the property) to operate at the property location. A lease is a type of contract, or legally binding agreement between two or more parties that is set out in writing and signed by both parties.

Generally speaking, a lease will set out how much money per month a tenant will pay the landlord for use of a specified property, where that property is located, and for how long the tenant gets to stay at the property while paying the agreed-upon rent. Once the lease is agreed upon and signed, neither party can go back and change the terms without mutual agreement (typically) in writing signed by both parties to change those terms (known as an “amendment”). Importantly, if there is any ambiguity in the terms of the lease, the parties will be up to the mercy of a court to interpret what the terms mean. It is very important for both the landlord and the prospective tenant to have competent legal representation when negotiating a lease.