Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; access to dwelling unit during certain emergencies. (HB1981)

Introduced By

Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond) with support from co-patrons Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria), and Del. Cia Price (D-Newport News)

Description

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; access to dwelling unit during certain declared states of emergency. Provides that a tenant shall be deemed to have reasonable justification for declining to permit a landlord or managing agent to exhibit the tenant's dwelling unit for sale or lease if the tenant has reasonable concern for his own health, or the health of any authorized occupant, during a state of emergency declared by the Governor in response to a communicable disease of public health threat and the tenant has provided written notice to the landlord informing the landlord of such concern. The bill requires the tenant in such circumstances to provide to the landlord or managing agent a video tour of the dwelling unit or other acceptable substitute for exhibiting the dwelling unit for sale or lease. The bill also provides that during a state of emergency declared by the Governor in response to a communicable disease of public health threat a tenant may provide written notice to the landlord requesting that one or more nonemergency property conditions in the dwelling unit not be addressed in the normal course of business of the landlord due to such communicable disease of public health threat. The bill provides that in such case the tenant shall be deemed to have waived any and all claims and rights under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act against the landlord for failure to address such nonemergency property conditions. Lastly, the bill provides that in the case of a tenant who has provided notice that he does not want nonemergency repairs made during the state of emergency due to a communicable disease of public health threat, the landlord may nonetheless enter the dwelling unit, provided that the employees and agents sent by the landlord are wearing all appropriate and reasonable personal protective equipment as required by state law, (i) to do nonemergency repairs and maintenance with at least seven days' written notice to the tenant and at a time consented to by the tenant, no more than once every six months, and (ii) if the landlord is required to conduct maintenance or an inspection pursuant to the agreement for the loan or insurance policy that covers the dwelling units. Read the Bill »

Status

03/30/2021: signed by governor

History