HB14 • 2026

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.

An Act to amend and reenact § 55.1-1259 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.

Housing

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Price
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the exact time frame or types of damages that may be awarded.

Virginia Law for Localities to Help Tenants

This law allows local governments to sue landlords who do not fix serious health and safety issues in rental homes within a reasonable time frame.

What This Bill Does

Allows localities to take legal action against landlords if they fail to address dangerous conditions that threaten tenants' life, health, or safety within a reasonable timeframe after being notified by the locality.

Who It Names or Affects

Local government officials
Landlords of rental properties within their jurisdiction
Tenants living in rental homes with serious health or safety issues

Terms To Know

material noncompliance: A significant failure to follow the rules set by a rental agreement or law.
locality: A city, town, or county government that can make and enforce local laws.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact time frame for landlords to fix problems is not defined in the bill.
It does not specify what kind of damages tenants might receive if a court finds in their favor.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 542 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 542 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0542)
2026-04-01 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB14)
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 House
Enrolled
2026-03-30 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB14ER)
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-04 General Laws and Technology
Reported from General Laws and Technology (9-Y 6-N)
2026-02-25 Housing
Assigned GL&T sub: Housing
2026-02-03 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-03 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
2026-02-02 House
Read third time and passed House (66-Y 33-N 0-A)
2026-01-30 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-01-29 House
Read first time
2026-01-27 General Laws
Reported from General Laws (17-Y 4-N)
2026-01-22 Housing/Consumer Protection
Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 2-N)
2026-01-20 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB14)
2026-01-19 Housing/Consumer Protection
Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
2025-12-22 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102047D
2025-12-22 General Laws
Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.
Provides that if a condition exists in a dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not remedied within a reasonable time frame, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of a tenant or occupant of the premises, a locality may institute an action on behalf of any tenant or occupant of the premises who is injured by such material noncompliance for injunction and damages to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the premises where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the premises, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice. This bill is identical to SB 290.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
55.1-1259
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
55.1-1259
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
55.1-1259
. Actions to enforce chapter.
A.
In addition to any other remedies in this chapter, any person adversely affected by an act or omission prohibited under this chapter may institute an action for injunction and damages against the person responsible for such act or omission in the circuit court in the county or city in which such act or omission occurred. If the court finds that the defendant was responsible for such act or omission, it shall enjoin the defendant from continuance of such practice
,
and
,
in its discretion
,
award the plaintiff damages as provided in this section.
B. If a condition exists in a dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not remedied within a reasonable time frame, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of a tenant or occupant of the premises, including infestation of rodents or a lack of heat, hot or cold running water, electricity, or adequate sewage disposal facilities, a locality may institute an action on behalf of any tenant or occupant of the premises who is injured by such material noncompliance for injunction and damages in the circuit court in the county or city in which the dwelling unit is located to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the premises where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the premises, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time frame after receiving such notice. If the court finds that the landlord failed to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, it shall enjoin the landlord from continuance of such practice and, in its discretion, award damages to any tenant or occupant of the premises on behalf of whom the action was brought.