GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 442, which requires housing providers to enter into dictated payment plans with delinquent tenants. 

Housing providers and tenants often enter into arrangements supplemental to the rental agreement to address issues, including nonpayment of rent. This bill would insert the government between housing providers and tenants and interfere with these relationships and the parties’ freedom to craft an arrangement that fits their needs.

Additionally, the payment plan procedures established by this bill would be burdensome on small businesses and expose housing providers to legal liability. Compliance with Virginia’s rental regulations is already complex and cumbersome for these small businesses, and this bill would exacerbate those issues.  

Accordingly, I veto this bill.