Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC) announced today a workshop aimed at heightening tenants' awareness of their rights and obligations under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. “Your Key To Quiet Enjoyment – Understanding the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act” is designed to provide tenants an understanding of the steps to locating and renting an apartment or house, rental agreements, inspecting the premises (what to look for), how to address property maintenance and repair issues, local eviction procedures, required notices, application fees, and security deposits. The workshop will provide tenants invaluable insight and understanding of common landlord and tenant issues, such as lack of maintenance, non-payment of rent, and poor safety and health conditions, and how to properly resolve them.

The workshop is targeted at renters in Hampton Roads' low-income, disadvantaged communities. VHCDC hopes, by making those tenants aware of their rights and obligations under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, they'll be empowered to address their living conditions through the mechanisms provided under the Act. This, in turn, will help curb the tide of homelessness, neighborhood blight, and decaying quality of life these residents face everyday. This may also reduce the burden on the local civil courts, whose dockets are littered with landlord-tenant disputes.

“Your Key To Quiet Enjoyment – Understanding the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act” is scheduled to be held: September 9th at Berkley Neighborhood Services Center, 925 S. Main Street, Norfolk; September 14th at New Hope Christian Community Center, 3241 Brest Avenue, Norfolk; September 16th at Portsmouth Neighborhood Facility, 900 Elm Avenue, Portsmouth; September 22nd at South Norfolk Memorial Library, 1100 Poindexter Street, Chesapeake; and, September 27th at Seatack Community Recreation Center, 141 S. Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach. All location start times are 6:30pm and registration is required. The fee is $20 per person. Each attendee will receive a complete copy of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, along with numerous materials and handouts.