Each Richmond guide answers one question — eviction, deposit, repairs, rent, entry, habitability — with the local office and the Virginia chapter. We do not invent a local deadline.
VRLTA, then City code
Virginia’s act is the statewide book. Richmond inspects some conditions. Possession is a General District Court filing.
What if I got a notice in Richmond?
Read it for a court name, a case number, or an appearance date. A landlord notice is usually a step. Court papers mean a case has been filed in Richmond General District Court — unlawful detainer. Date it, photograph every page, and call legal aid the same day if a court is named. Do not guess the deadline from a national chart.
What if the unit is not livable?
Write the problem, date it, and keep photos. Open a request with Richmond 311 or dial 311. An inspector’s dated notice is often worth more later than unanswered texts. Rent withholding and repair-and-deduct are Virginia questions — ask legal aid before you skip a payment.
What if the deposit did not come back?
The clock, the cap, and the itemization rules live mainly in Virginia law. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Gather the lease, move-out photos, the forwarding address you gave, and any deduction list, then open the Virginia deposit page.
What if the rent went up?
A lease still in term is not the same as month-to-month. Whether Richmond adds a local cap or just-cause rule is a coverage question — Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Keep the letter. Confirm the Virginia chapter and the City office before you treat a percentage you saw online as the law.
What if they keep coming in without notice?
Entry rules in Richmond start with Virginia law and the lease. Emergencies, repairs, and showings are not always the same notice. Write the date and time. Richmond 311 may take a complaint. This desk does not invent an hour-count.
What if heat, water, or the structure fails?
That is a habitability problem. Photograph it, write the date, and open a request with Richmond 311 or 311. If it is dangerous tonight — a gas leak, no heat in winter, a collapsed ceiling — treat it as an emergency. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Is Richmond the same as the rest of Virginia for renters?
Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Richmond General District Court — unlawful detainer hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Who do I call in Richmond if the unit is not livable?
Richmond 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
Official Richmond offices
Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. The Virginia chapter is Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Va. Code §§ 55.1-1200 to 55.1-1262). We name it. We do not paraphrase a number out of it.
Richmond renter questions
Can my landlord in Richmond evict me without going to court?
No. Changing locks, shutting off utilities, or dumping belongings is not how possession is completed. Richmond General District Court — unlawful detainer is where those cases are heard. If the paper names a court, a case number, or an appearance date, call legal aid the same day. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door.
How do I get my security deposit back in Richmond?
Deposit caps, itemization, and return deadlines are usually Virginia questions — sometimes with a city overlay. Photograph the unit, return keys the way the lease requires, and keep a forwarding address. Confirm the chapter on the Virginia page. This desk does not reprint a dollar cap or a day-count.
Who inspects repairs in Richmond?
Richmond 311 is the local conditions door, and 311 is often how you open a request. Put the repair in writing first and keep photos. Do not skip rent on a rumor — ask legal aid before you change what you pay. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door.
Does Richmond have local rent rules on top of Virginia?
Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door.
Is Richmond the same as the rest of Virginia for renters?
Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Richmond General District Court — unlawful detainer hears possession cases. Dial 311 for City services. Do not import another city’s ordinance.
Who do I call in Richmond if the unit is not livable?
Richmond 311 and 311 are the local conditions doors. Put the repair in writing and keep photos. Virginia VRLTA is the book. Richmond 311/code is the conditions door. Do not skip rent on a rumor.
What number should I call in Richmond?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. Local City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. Richmond 311 does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org