Notwithstanding any rule of court to the contrary, (i) any person licensed under the provisions of § 54.1-2106.1, (ii) any property manager or the managing agent of a landlord as defined in § 55.1-1200 pursuant to the written property management agreement, or directors, or by a manager, a general partner, or a trustee, of a partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, professional corporation, professional limited liability company, registered limited liability partnership, registered limited liability limited partnership, business trust, or family trust to sign pleadings as the agent of the business entity, may obtain a judgment (a) for possession in the general district court for the county or city in which the premises, or part thereof, is situated or (b) for rent or damages, including actual damages for breach of the rental agreement, or for final rent and damages under § 8.01-128, in any general district court where venue is proper under Chapter 5 (§ 8.01-257 et seq.) of Title 8.01, against any defendant if the person seeking such judgment had a contractual agreement with the landlord to manage the premises for which rent or possession is due and may prepare, execute, file, and have served on other parties in any general district court a warrant in debt, suggestion for summons in garnishment, garnishment summons, order of possession, writ of eviction, or writ of fieri facias arising out of a landlord-tenant relationship. However, the activities of any such person in court shall be limited by the provisions of § 16.1-88.03. However, nothing shall be construed as preventing a nonlawyer from requesting relief from the court as provided by law or statute when such nonlawyer is before the court on one of the actions specified herein.
1983, c. 8, § 55-246.1; 1989, c. 612; 1998, c. 452; 2003, cc. 665, 667; 2004, cc. 338, 365; 2010, c. 550; 2013, c. 563; 2015, c. 190; 2018, c. 221; 2019, cc. 180, 477, 700, 712.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 55.1 - Property and Conveyances
Chapter 14 - Nonresidential Tenancies
§ 55.1-1400. Applicability; right to terminate tenant
§ 55.1-1402. Apportionment on purchase of part of land by holder of rent
§ 55.1-1403. Perfection of lien or interest in leases, rents, and profits
§ 55.1-1405. Transfer of deposits upon purchase
§ 55.1-1406. Grantees and assignees have same rights against lessees as lessors
§ 55.1-1407. Lessees have same rights against grantees as against lessors
§ 55.1-1408. What powers to pass to grantee or devisee; when attornment unnecessary
§ 55.1-1409. When attornment void
§ 55.1-1412. Security systems for nonresidential rental property
§ 55.1-1414. Abandonment of nonresidential rental property
§ 55.1-1415. Failure to pay certain rents after five days' notice forfeits right of possession
§ 55.1-1417. Who may recover rent or possession
§ 55.1-1418. Remedy when rent is to be paid in other thing than money
§ 55.1-1419. Proceedings to establish right of reentry; judgment
§ 55.1-1420. When defendant barred of relief
§ 55.1-1421. How trustee or mortgagee relieved from the forfeiture
§ 55.1-1422. How owner relieved in court
§ 55.1-1423. How judgment of forfeiture prevented
§ 55.1-1424. When action for reentry brought
§ 55.1-1425. Written act of reentry to be returned and recorded and certificate of reentry published
§ 55.1-1427. How person entitled to lands may be restored to his possession
§ 55.1-1428. Limitation of action against person in possession by reentry