Termination of Commercial Building Lease

[jmwslt]

Hello,

My wife owns a beauty salon in Virginia and she leases the building. The lease is set to expire in April 2009. The original lessor sold the property about 6 months ago to a local developer. We are hearing rumours that the developer is planning to clear the property in the next several months.

Our lease has no termination clause other than for non-payment or destruction of leased property which does not apply in this case.

In general, what are her rights if the the lessor decides to 'evict' her?

Can the lessee claim any damages?

Thanks for your assistance

[seniorjudge]

Q: Can the lessee claim any damages?

A: What direct damages (in dollar amounts) would she experience if she were evicted?

(Hint: Give us damages that she would suffer that would be different from those damages suffered if the building burned down tonight.)

[jmwslt]

I guess the damages would consist of cost of relocation, setup or new salon.

If not "damages" can we make a claim against the lessor for the balance or % of balance of remainder of the lease?

Thank you.

[aaron]

Normally a developer will try to buy out the unexpired terms of the existing tenants.