55-248.26 - Tenant's remedies for landlord's unlawful ouster, exclusion or diminution of service. - Virginia Statutes

§ 55-248.26. Tenant's remedies for landlord's unlawful ouster, exclusion ordiminution of service.

If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant from the premisesor willfully diminishes services to the tenant by interrupting or causing theinterruption of gas, water or other essential service to the tenant, thetenant may recover possession or terminate the rental agreement and, ineither case, recover the actual damages sustained by him and a reasonableattorney's fee. If the rental agreement is terminated the landlord shallreturn all of the security deposit in accordance with § 55-248.15:1.

(1974, c. 680; 2000, c. 760.)