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2016 SESSION

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HB 735 Landlord and tenant laws; responsibility of landlord to pay certain costs, etc.

Introduced by: Jackson H. Miller | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

Landlord and tenant laws. Provides under the landlord and tenant law and the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) that unless a tenant is at fault in cases of mold needing remediation, the landlord is obliged to pay all costs associated with the tenant's temporary relocation as well as the costs of mold remediation. Among other things, the bill (i) provides that, except for applicable lawful householder's exemptions, nothing affects the right of a landlord with respect to an inchoate or perfected lien of a landlord on the personal property of a tenant of any leased or rented commercial or residential premises or the right of such landlord to distress, levy, and seize such personal property as otherwise provided by law; (ii) clarifies that residential provisions under the landlord and tenant law do not apply to dwelling units under the VRLTA; (iii) provides that a landlord's collection agency and a third party providing background screening or credit reporting services to the landlord or his managing agent may have access to tenant records; (iv) allows the landlord to charge a tenant for his records, if the rental agreement so provides; (v) clarifies that a landlord is not obligated to make repairs to address damages identified in the move-in inspection report unless otherwise required to do so under the VRLTA; (vi) requires a tenant to maintain carbon monoxide detectors to the standards established in the Uniform Statewide Building Code; and (vii) provides that if, upon inspection of the dwelling unit, the landlord determines that repairs are necessary, the landlord may make such repairs and send the tenant an invoice for payment. If, upon inspection of the dwelling unit, the landlord discovers a violation of the rental agreement, the VRLTA, or other applicable law, the landlord may send a written notice of termination. If a tenant declines to permit the landlord or managing agent to exhibit the dwelling unit for sale or lease, the landlord may recover damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees against such tenant. The bill contains technical amendments.


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