SB427: Residential Landlord Tenant Act; confidentiality of tenant records.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 55-248.9:1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 55-248.9:1. Confidentiality of tenant records.
A. No landlord or managing agent shall release information about a tenant or prospective tenant in the possession of the landlord to a third party unless:
1. The tenant or prospective tenant has given prior written consent;
2. The information is a matter of public record as defined in § 2.2-3701;
3. The information is a summary of the tenant's rent payment record, including the amount of the tenant's periodic rent payment;
4. The information is a copy of a material noncompliance notice that has not been remedied or, termination notice given to the tenant under § 55-248.31 and the tenant did not remain in the premises thereafter;
5. The information is requested by a local, state, or federal law-enforcement or public safety official in the performance of his duties; or
6. The information is otherwise provided in the case of an emergency.
B. A tenant may designate a third party to receive duplicate copies of a summons that has been issued pursuant to § 8.01-126 and of written notices from the landlord relating to the tenancy. Where such a third party has been designated by the tenant, the landlord shall send the duplicate copy of any summons issued pursuant to § 8.01-126 or notice to the designated third party at the same time the summons or notice is sent to the tenant.