According to the Virginia General Assembly, there have been 29 new residential rental laws enacted in Virginia in the past two years, from January 1, 2022, to October 4, 2023. These laws cover a wide range of topics, including tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, and eviction procedures. Some of the most notable new laws include:
The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) Amendments of 2022: These amendments made several changes to the VRLTA, including clarifying the landlord's responsibilities for providing habitable rental units, expanding tenants' rights to notice before eviction, and prohibiting landlords from charging late fees or interest on rent payments that are received on time.
The Virginia Fair Housing Act Amendments of 2022: These amendments expanded the scope of the Virginia Fair Housing Act to protect tenants from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Virginia Housing Affordability Act of 2023: This law provides funding for a variety of affordable housing programs, including rental assistance for low-income households.
The Virginia Tenant Protection Act of 2023: This law prohibits landlords from evicting tenants without a valid reason, such as nonpayment of rent or violation of the lease agreement.
These are just a few of the many new residential rental laws that have been enacted in Virginia in the past two years. Tenants and landlords should familiarize themselves with these laws to ensure that they are complying with their legal obligations.
Here are some additional resources for finding more information about new residential rental laws in Virginia:
- Virginia General Assembly: https://lis.virginia.gov/
- Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development: https://www.virginiahousing.com/en
- Legal Aid Society of Virginia: https://vlas.org/
- at www.CoastalGroupInc.com Realtors we study the annual VRLTA updates to ensure our understanding and compliance. It's good business!