Can I do anything to fight a 21/30 notice sent to me by my landlord in Virginia?

[russharv63]

Jurisdiction

Virginia

I live in an apartment building in the state of Virginia. Several months ago I contacted my landlord to file a noise complaint aganist a tenant in another apartment below me by email. The landlord asked me what time of day was it that I heard the excessive noise coming from this tenants apartment. I told my landlord it was around 3pm. The landlord contacted me back and told me they could issue only a courtesy noise complaint against this tenant because the noise happened between the hours of 8am-10pm. The landlord told me it was not a noise violation if it happened during those hours. If it had happened between the hours of 10pm-8am it would then be a noise violation. So the other day I was sent a 21/30 notice from my landlord for a noise violation. A tenant had filed a noise complaint on me that he told the landlord happened around 11am. The landlord said this was a noise violation after telling me noise violations occur only between 10pm-8am. I still have the email of the conversation between the landlord and myself from several months ago when the landlord told me noise violations can only occur between the hours of 10pm-8am. What can I do now to defend myself against this 21/30 notice from my landlord? Would the email where the landlord told me noise violations can only occur between the hours of 10pm-8am be a good defense to the 21/30 notice? How should I handle this problem? My lease terms have not changed recently.

 

[Zigner]

Cure the violation within 21 days (in other words, be quieter in the future) and notify your landlord that you have done so.

EDIT: Consider what you received as a "courtesy noise complaint" and move on.

 

[adjusterjack]

the other day I was sent a 21/30 notice from my landlord for a noise violation.

Exactly how was the violation described in the notice? Quote it word for word.

I still have the email of the conversation between the landlord and myself from several months ago when the landlord told me noise violations can only occur between the hours of 10pm-8am. What can I do now to defend myself against this 21/30 notice from my landlord?

You could send that email back to him, if you want to risk annoying him and getting on his radar.

Or you can follow Zigner's advice.

 

[russharv63]

Exactly how was the violation described in the notice? Quote it word for word.



You could send that email back to him, if you want to risk annoying him and getting on his radar.

Or you can follow Zigner's advice.

This was sent to me by email from my landlord on 04/21/25. Please see attachment.

 

[adjusterjack]

I don't see anything in your attachment that specifies what your noise was.



Just how much of a spitting contest are you willing to get into with the landlord and the neighbor?

From the landlord's point of view, one way to stop tenants from feuding is to get rid of one of them.

 

[russharv63]

I don't see anything in your attachment that specifies what your noise was.

View attachment 5362

Just how much of a spitting contest are you willing to get into with the landlord and the neighbor?

From the landlord's point of view, one way to stop tenants from feuding is to get rid of one of them.

I am not worried about the tenant I just want to fight this 21/30 notice and don't know how to handle it. Do you think I should see a attorney? I was going to send the emails that the landlord states their is no noise violation if the noise is between 8am-10pm. Do they have to state to me if I ask them what the day, time and type of noise it was that occurred? The notice leaves out the details. What do they have to prove to me?

 

[Red Kayak]

I am not worried about the tenant I just want to fight this 21/30 notice and don't know how to handle it. Do you think I should see a attorney? I was going to send the emails that the landlord states their is no noise violation if the noise is between 8am-10pm. Do they have to state to me if I ask them what the day, time and type of noise it was that occurred? The notice leaves out the details. What do they have to prove to me?

How thick are you?

The issue is that you are pissing fight with your neighbor, competing to drown each other out, and making everyone else miserable.

Stop it.

Stop making excessive noise and you will stop being the problem.

Get a white noise machine or noise cancellation earphones. Shape up or ship out by May 12th.

 

[adjusterjack]

I just want to fight this 21/30 notice and don't know how to handle it.

I can't tell you what to do.

On option is a written response to the landlord demanding that he identify the time and date and the nature of the noise and the contact information for any witnesses so you can get written statements from them.

Another option is to send the landlord a copy of his email that says that there can't be a noise complaint between the hours specified and indicate that his own words can be used against him.

What do they have to prove to me?

The only time "proof" is required is in court.

Until then it's who blinks first.

Do you think I should see a attorney?

That's up to you. Do you think it's worth $300 to $400 per hour for an attorney to respond to the landlord? Might get the landlord to back off, might not.

 

[Zigner]

https://piedmonthousingalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/fact-sheet-21-30-notices.pdf

 

[russharv63]

I can't tell you what to do.

On option is a written response to the landlord demanding that he identify the time and date and the nature of the noise and the contact information for any witnesses so you can get written statements from them.

Another option is to send the landlord a copy of his email that says that there can't be a noise complaint between the hours specified and indicate that his own words can be used against him.



The only time "proof" is required is in court.

Until then it's who blinks first.



That's up to you. Do you think it's worth $300 to $400 per hour for an attorney to respond to the landlord? Might get the landlord to back off, might not.

I have emailed the landlord asking for this information but they won't respond.

 

[army judge]

This was sent to me by email from my landlord on 04/21/25. Please see attachment.

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should do something.

For example, kicking, or otherwise annoying/molesting a SLEEPING grizzly bear is NEVER wise move.

Snitching, ratting out, dropping dimes on others; often causes you extreme regret.

Most things in our lives are mere annoyances. Magnifying,drawing attention to those annoyances usually ends up with you painting a BIG, RED BULLSEYE on your back.

Think about what you've achieved in the instant matter under discussion @russharv63 !!!!!

You've only hurt yourself.

@army judge suggests you'd not be the monkey in the barrel had you simply minded your own business.

Think before you leap, then just don't leap!!!!