Va Month-to-month lease

[dhirschman]

I am currently renting my house in southern Virginia via a verbal agreement. There are no problems with the current tenants. I wish to return to my house and verbally mentioned that I planned to regain occupancy the end of July. What do I need to do to legally notify my tenant of my desire to return to my house? Can I simply send a certified letter stating that the verbal lease agreement expires Jul 31?

In VA, you need only give a 30 day written notice asking them to move out by xx/xx date. You do not need to give a reason to ask them to move if they have no written lease. I suggest you do this at least *60* days prior to your plan to return to the house as a courtesy to the tenants. Remind them that you will be taking occupancy of the house and that they need to be moved out and return the keys by xx/xx date. Send this by certified mail, return receipt requested to be sure they got it. Keep a copy of this letter for your records, just in case.

[dhirschman]

Does the letter have to be in some sort of legal-eze or can any ordinary letter explaining the details work?

No legal terms need be included. A simple letter stating that you need to terminate their month to month agreement will suffice. Ask them to vacate the property by xx/xx date and return the keys by xx:xx time on that day. A couple sentences is all that is required. Sign and date it and give them the required amount of notice.