SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2001 SESSION

  • | print version

SB 1229 Landlord and tenant provisions in Northern Virginia.

Introduced by: Mary Margaret Whipple | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Landlord and tenant. Extends from 30 to 45, the number of days a landlord has to notify a tenant of any deduction in the tenant’s security deposit; provides that if a landlord willfully fails to comply with the provisions relating to security deposits, the court shall order return of the deposit and any accrued interest to the tenant, together with reasonable attorney’s fees; clarifies the notice to be given by the landlord for the entry into a tenant’s unit for routine maintenance; provides that the tenant, upon termination of occupancy, is responsible for payment to the landlord for the reasonable costs incurred in removing burglary prevention and fire detection devices installed by the tenant and for any repairs for damage to the unit because of the removal of the devices; allows a tenant to use the rent escrow provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act regardless of the number of notices to pay or quit he has received from the landlord; and limits the amount of post-possession damages a landlord can recover under a rental agreement. The bill also incorporates into other Virginia law governing landlord and tenant issues provisions of the VRLTA relating to the maintenance of residential rental units and imposes obligations on both the landlord and tenant to maintain the dwelling unit. This bill is a recommendation of the Housing Study Commission.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Landlord and tenant. Removes, for the purposes of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), the “trigger” number for Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax City and County, and Falls Church so that the VRLTA would govern all condominium and single family residential rental units in those localities. With respect to the VRLTA, the bill (i) extends from 30 to 45, the number of days a landlord has to notify a tenant of any deduction in the tenant’s security deposit; (ii) provides that if a landlord willfully fails to comply with the provisions relating to security deposits, then the deposit and any accrued interest shall be refunded in full to the tenant, together with reasonable attorney’s fees; (iii) clarifies the notice to be given by the landlord for the entry into a tenant’s unit for routine maintenance; (iv) provides that the tenant, upon termination of occupancy, is responsible for payment to the landlord for the reasonable costs incurred in removing burglary prevention and fire detection devices installed by the tenant and for any repairs for damage to the unit because of the removal of the devices; (v) allows a tenant to use the rent escrow provisions of the VRLTA regardless of the number of notices to pay or quit he has received from the landlord; and (vi) limits the amount of post-possession damages a landlord can recover under a rental agreement. The bill also incorporates into other Virginia law governing landlord and tenant issues provisions of the VRLTA relating to the maintenance of residential rental units and imposes obligations on both the landlord and tenant to maintain the dwelling unit. This bill is a recommendation of the Housing Study Commission.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Landlord and tenant. Extends from 30 to 45, the number of days a landlord has to notify a tenant of any deduction in the tenant’s security deposit; provides that if a landlord willfully fails to comply with the provisions relating to security deposits, the court shall order return of the deposit and any accrued interest to the tenant, together with reasonable attorney’s fees; clarifies the notice to be given by the landlord for the entry into a tenant’s unit for routine maintenance; provides that the tenant, upon termination of occupancy, is responsible for payment to the landlord for the reasonable costs incurred in removing burglary prevention and fire detection devices installed by the tenant and for any repairs for damage to the unit because of the removal of the devices; allows a tenant to use the rent escrow provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act regardless of the number of notices to pay or quit he has received from the landlord; and limits the amount of post-possession damages a landlord can recover under a rental agreement. The bill also incorporates into other Virginia law governing landlord and tenant issues provisions of the VRLTA relating to the maintenance of residential rental units and imposes obligations on both the landlord and tenant to maintain the dwelling unit. This bill is a recommendation of the Housing Study Commission.