What is a landlord’s lien?

A landlord’s lien is a type of legal security right granted to landlords in the state of Virginia. It is a form of collateral that a landlord can use to secure a tenant’s rent payments. If a tenant fails to pay the rent, the landlord can use the lien as a form of security to help recover the rent due. A landlord’s lien is created when the lease agreement between the landlord and the tenant includes language stating that the landlord is granted a lien on certain property held by the tenant. It can include personal property such as cars, boats, furniture, and other items. The landlord can use the lien to take possession of the property and sell it to recover any unpaid rent. In Virginia, the landlord’s lien will be considered subordinate to any other liens or security interests on the tenant’s property. This means that if the tenant has any debts or mortgages that are secured by their property, the landlord’s lien will be secondary or subordinate. In other words, if the tenant’s other liabilities are paid off first, then the landlord’s lien will not have priority over those debts. In order to enforce a landlord’s lien in Virginia, the landlord must follow certain procedures. The landlord must send a written notice to the tenant informing them of the lien. The tenant then has 20 days to either pay the rent or take possession of the property and move it off the property. If the tenant does not take action, the landlord may proceed to sell the property to recover the rent due.

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