Tenants and landlords need to know their rights and responsibilities under virginia and fairfax county laws. Virginia landlord tenant laws are set forth in the code of virginia, title 55, chapter. Vrlta applies to all apartment rentals in virginia and most other rentals. The fredericksburg office provides services to eligible residents of planning district 16, which. Virginia residential landlord and tenant act check out all the details about your rights as a renter and your responsibilities. The statutes provide the laws, rights and responsibilities of the parties to a landlord tenant relationship. The virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta, sections 55248. Landlords and tenants not covered by the vrlta may be entitled to different protections and certain protections and benefits discussed in this handbook may not.
Only the courts can enforce those rights and responsibilities. Generally speaking, the virginia residential landlord tenant act, or vrlta, applies to all residential tenancies unless the landlord is eligible to opt out, and states this in a written lease. Dhcd handbook technical publications virginia fair housing regulations u. It contains provisions for interest to be paid on security deposits, rules for landlord access, maintenance duties of both parties, and. Thankfully, west virginias landlordtenant laws are designed to protect your rights and clarify your responsibilities, in addition to federal and local law. Everyones familiar with landlordtenant disputes, whether youve experienced it firsthand or through others. File a complaint if you are a tenant with an unresolved dispute with a landlord, you can file a complaint online, download a complaint form, or contact the consumer affairs branch. In addition to standard landlordtenant laws, the state enacted the virginia residential landlord and tenant act code sections 55248. Landlord tenant handbook department of commerce and.
In arlington, there are three laws that govern tenantlandlord relationships. The virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies and responsibilities of landlords and renters concerning the rental process. Overview of landlordtenant laws in west virginia nolo. Virginia landlordtenant law sets up the foundation for residential leases in virginia. Anysuch rule or regulation is enforceable against the tenant only if. Before signing a lease, prospective tenants should read and understand the terms of the contract. Virginia landlord tenant laws tenant screening, landlord. Landlord tenant laws on virginia commercial property. Rights of parties on transfer of land or reversion. Landlord and tenant handbook norfolk state university. This handbook is a necessary guide for both renters and landlords. It is a thorough guide to policies and guidelines within the commonwealth of virginia.
Virginia landlord tenant handbook linkedin slideshare. The virginia residential landlord and tenant act hereafter vrlta handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies, and responsibilities of landlords and renters concerning the rental process. The virginia residential landlord and tenant act hereafter vrlta handbook has been. This virginia landlord tenant handbook includes the full legal code of the virginia residential landlord tenant act. If you have to go to court as a result of a landlordtenant dispute, either as defendant or plaintiff, you should consider seeking. The vrlta also applies to stays in hotels, motels, or boarding houses if the tenant has been. Landlordtenant handbook is a practical manual intended for use in both the courtroom and the office. The statutes have almost nothing to say about commercial renters. This applies to rental properties covered by the virginia residential landlord tenant act vrlta and to mobile home parks covered by the manufactured home lot rental act mhlra. Landlords and tenants can build upon this foundation to make the rental agreement of their choosing. A landlord, from time to time, may adopt rules or regulations, howeverdescribed, concerning the tenants use and occupancy of the premises. These laws include many of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and apply to most residential agreements except singlefamily houses if your landlord owns and rents no more than.
Sources of law virginia residential landlordtenant act vrlta. Landlord tenant act the virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies, and responsibilities of landlords and renters concerning the rental process. Before signing a lease, prospective tenants should read and understand the. Landlords duty to keep your rental unit in safe and livable condition. This act applies to apartments, public housing, housing choice vouchers, section 8 housing and other.
Under west virginia law, landlords must disclose specific information to tenants usually in the lease or rental agreement, such as the purpose of any nonrefundable fee. This publication will describe both tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities. Introduction the virginia residential landlord and tenant act hereafter vrlta handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies, and responsibilities of landlords and renters concerning the rental process. Your rights as a tenant virginia legal aid society. Property and conveyances 2014 cumulative index of bills, joint resolutions, and resolutions for additional information, please contact the house of delegates information and public relations office, p. What you can do if the landlord is not responding to your need for repairs. These are the virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta, chapter. The consumer affairs branch and the tenantlandlord commission commission offer this information to help you understand what you need to know in. It is both a singlesource reference and a working tool for lawyers confronting landlordtenant issues in virginia, with chapters on topics such as creation of tenancy, forfeiture, the virginia residential landlord and tenant act, the manufactured home lot rental act, landlords liens. These are the virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta, a state law passed in 1974, and the statewide building maintenance code. The virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies and responsibilities of. Fair housing act design manual to assist designers and builders meet fair housing accessibility requirements. In arlington there are two major laws that govern the tenantlandlord relationship.
Virginia residential landlord and tenant act washington and lee. Vrlta applies to all apartment rentals in virginia where the landlord owns three properties or more. A landlord can keep your guest from coming to the house or apartment that you rent if that person breaks the rules in the lease or breaks the law. An heir, devisee, grantee or assignee of any land let to lease, or of the reversion thereof, and his heirs, personal representative or assigns, shall enjoy against the lessee, his personal representative, devisees or assigns, the like advantage by action or entry upon any condition or forfeiture, or. Virginia residential landlord and tenant act dhcd virginia. Housing landlord tenant virginia legal aid society.
The virginia residential landlord and tenant act hereafter vrlta handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights. In addition, it will provide resources to assist you in finding more information on tenant and landlord laws in west virginia, a checklist to use before moving in, and information on the fair housing act and how it. This overview of key landlordtenant laws in west virginia will get you started. Most of the landlords in virginia say they are familiar with the states landlordtenant law, and we believe this has been key to their success. The vrlta specifies both tenant and landlord responsibilities. Read on to learn more about west virginias tenant rights laws and how they might affect you. What law in virginia addresses landlordtenant issues. Landlordtenant handbook, 20192020 ed legal solutions. Virginia residential landlord and tenant handbook handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies, and responsibilities of. The virginia residential landlord and tenant act vrlta, sections 55.
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