Eviction Prevention

Arlington County’s housing and rental assistance programs seek to help tenants facing eviction.

What if I can’t pay my rent?
Contact your landlord as soon as possible. Ask if partial payments are accepted until the rent is paid in full. If so, write out a payment plan that reflects what you can afford. For additional help with rent and expenses, contact 703-228-1300 or contact the Virginia Rent Relief Program.

Can I be evicted?
Check the County website for updates. Your landlord cannot evict you or ask you to leave your residence for having COVID-19 or while seeking medical assistance.

Eviction Process

If you are a tenant, your landlord must follow the legal eviction process as outlined below.
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Are you at risk of eviction?

What You Can Do

Talk to your landlord immediately to try to resolve the problem. Find out why you are being evicted. The law does not require the landlord to tell you why unless the reason is unpaid rent. If you are being evicted for unpaid rent, you will need to give your landlord a reasonable schedule for paying past as well as future rent. See the following links to see if they will apply to you:

• HUD Tenant Guidance
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia Model Affidavit
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia Declaracion Jurada

Appear in court unless the Landlord cancels the summons in writing. You will lose your case if you do not go to court on the date on the Unlawful Detainer. You are not required to have an attorney, but the landlord will have an attorney in court.

Eviction Prevention Services