Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit. (SB1215)
Introduced By
Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon), Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Midlothian), and Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit, interruption of services, or actions taken to make premises unsafe. Provides that a general district court shall enter an order upon petition by a tenant that his landlord has (i) removed or excluded the tenant from the dwelling unit unlawfully, (ii) interrupted or caused the interruption of an essential service to the tenant, or (iii) taken action to make the premises unsafe for habitation. The bill allows entry of a preliminary order ex parte to require the landlord to allow the tenant to recover possession of the dwelling unit, resume any such interrupted essential service, or fix any willful actions taken by the landlord or his agent to make the premises unsafe for habitation if there is good cause to do so and the tenant made reasonable efforts to notify the landlord of the hearing. The bill requires that any ex parte order entered shall further indicate a date for a full hearing on the petition that is no later than 10 days from the initial hearing date. Finally, the bill provides that, at a full hearing on such petition and upon proper evidence presented, the tenant shall recover actual damages, the greater of $5,000 or four months' rent, and reasonable attorney fees. This bill is identical to HB 1900. Read the Bill »
Status
03/30/2021: signed by governor
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/11/2021 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21102805D |
01/11/2021 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
01/19/2021 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1215) |
01/27/2021 | Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered |
01/27/2021 | Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (13-Y 0-N 2-A) (see vote tally) |
01/29/2021 | Constitutional reading dispensed (35-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/01/2021 | Read second time |
02/01/2021 | Reading of amendment waived |
02/01/2021 | Committee amendment agreed to |
02/01/2021 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1215E |
02/01/2021 | Printed as engrossed 21102805D-E |
02/02/2021 | Read third time and passed Senate (27-Y 12-N) (see vote tally) |
02/04/2021 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1215E) |
02/05/2021 | Placed on Calendar |
02/05/2021 | Read first time |
02/05/2021 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
02/08/2021 | Continued to Special Session 1 in General Laws |
02/11/2021 | House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered |
02/11/2021 | Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) (13-Y 9-N) (see vote tally) |
02/15/2021 | Read second time |
02/16/2021 | Read third time |
02/16/2021 | Committee amendment agreed to |
02/16/2021 | Engrossed by House as amended |
02/16/2021 | Passed House with amendment (54-Y 45-N) |
02/16/2021 | VOTE: Passage (54-Y 45-N) (see vote tally) |
02/18/2021 | House amendment agreed to by Senate (24-Y 13-N) (see vote tally) |
02/18/2021 | Reconsideration of House amendment agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/18/2021 | House amendment agreed to by Senate (24-Y 15-N) (see vote tally) |
02/22/2021 | Enrolled |
02/22/2021 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1215ER) |
02/22/2021 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1215ER) |
02/22/2021 | Signed by President |
02/24/2021 | Signed by Speaker |
02/25/2021 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on February 25, 2021 |
02/25/2021 | G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 31, 2021 |
03/30/2021 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 404 (effective 7/1/21) |
03/30/2021 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0404) |