VirginiaVirginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord.
What it does
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage; termination by landlord. Requires a landlord, prior to giving a tenant 21 days' notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement for a dwelling unit that has been damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty, to (i) make a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant to discuss reasonable alternatives and offer the tenant a substantially similar dwelling unit, if one is available, or (ii) determine that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit in accordance with relevant law. Current law allows the landlord to terminate such agreement by giving the tenant 14 days' notice of his intention to terminate on the basis of the landlord's determination that such damage requires the removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired.
More detail
The bill requires the landlord, upon receiving a request from the tenant after the tenant has received such notice, to reevaluate the extent of damage and habitability of such dwelling unit unless the landlord has determined that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 11Governor's recommendation received by HouseLatest
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB834)
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB834ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 11Senate amendment agreed to by House (66-Y 32-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Engrossed by Senate as amended
- Mar 10General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed toMajor
- Mar 10Read third timeMinor
- Mar 9Passed by for the day
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 6Rules suspended
- Mar 4Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Senate committee offered
- Feb 25Assigned GL&T sub: HousingMinor
- Feb 10Referred to Committee on General Laws and TechnologyMinor
- Feb 10Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 9Read third time and passed House (68-Y 30-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Read second time and engrossedMinor
- Feb 5Read first timeMinor
- Feb 3Reported from General Laws (18-Y 3-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from General Laws. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 26Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer ProtectionMinor
- Jan 23Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB834)
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on General LawsMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104720DIntroduced