Locked out, utilities shut off, or someone is unsafe right now? Call 911 for emergencies, then read our urgent safety steps.

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Tenant Nexus

Locked out, or utilities shut off

Lockouts and utility shutoffs used to force a tenant out.

Awaiting attorney review

This playbook is written and sourced, but a qualified Virginia reviewer has not signed off on it yet. Use it to understand the landscape and to prepare, not as a legal conclusion, a deadline, or a remedy.

A landlord generally cannot put you out by changing the locks or shutting off utilities. This is an emergency; document it today and call legal aid the same day.

What the law says

  • Virginia does not allow a landlord to remove you from your home by self-help; changing the locks, removing your belongings, or shutting off utilities to force you out.
  • Possession of a rental is decided through a court process. A landlord who skips the court and locks you out has created a legal problem for themselves, and possibly an urgent one for you.
  • Utility shutoffs aimed at forcing a tenant out are treated seriously. Keep the utility account records, because they show who ordered the shutoff and when.

Steps tenants usually take

  1. 01If anyone is in danger or a confrontation is escalating, call 911 first.
  2. 02Write down what happened while it is fresh: time, people, exact words.
  3. 03Ask the landlord in writing to restore access or service, and keep proof you asked.
  4. 04Contact legal aid the same day; do not try to solve this by force.
  5. 05Ask the city about an inspection if the unit is currently unsafe.

Do not skip these

  • Do not break a lock, force a door, or re-enter in a way that could escalate into a confrontation or a criminal charge. Get advice first.
  • If children, elderly or disabled household members are without heat, water or power, say so when you call; it changes how fast agencies respond.