Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 588 — VA Residential Landlord &Tenant Act; fire/casualty damage, landlord requirements for termination.

Last action — Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on February 25, 2024.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 60% · moderate confidence
  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    6 passed, 2 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

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 to offer the tenant a substantially similar 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 certain provisions. 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. 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 unit unless the landlord has determined that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

40 added · 42 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of Bill HB 588 includes changes that clarify the process for terminating a rental agreement if a dwelling unit is damaged by fire or other accidents. Specifically, it now specifies that both tenants and landlords can initiate the termination under certain conditions, with a clear timeline for notification. These changes are important because they provide a structured procedure for both parties to follow, ensuring that tenants have a defined method to exit their lease when their living conditions are compromised, while also outlining the landlord's responsibilities to communicate with the tenant.

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Latest
SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 24106219D HOUSE BILL NO.
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 55.1-1240 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
588 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on General Laws (Patron Prior to Substitute––Delegate McClure) A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1240 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
R O [H 588] L Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
L 1.
E § 55.1-1240.
Fire or casualty damage.
If the dwelling unit or premises is damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that the tenant's enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired or required the unit requires repairs that can only be accomplished if the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, either the tenant or the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.
If the dwelling unit or premises is damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that the tenant's enjoyment of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired or required the unit requires repairs that can only be accomplished if the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, either the tenant or the landlord may terB.
H thereafter, serving on the landlord a written notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating.
The tenant may terminate the rental agreement by vacating the premises and within 14 21 days thereafter, serving on the landlord a written notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating.
U C.
H C.
The landlord may terminate the rental agreement by giving the tenant 14 21 days' notice of his intention to terminate the rental agreement on the basis of the landlord's determination if, prSor to giving the1.
The landlord may terminate the rental agreement by giving the tenant 14 21 days' notice o5 his intention to terminate the rental agreement on the basis of the landlord's determination if, pr8or to giving the1.
(i) Has met with or has made a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant to discuss the eEtent of the damage to the tenant's unit and whether any reasonable alternatives to terminating the rental agreement are available and (ii) has determined whether a substantially similar unit within the same complex is available for rent within a reasonable time for the tenant to move into such unit and if so, has offered to lease such unit to the tenant under the tenant's current lease terms.
(i) Has met with or has made a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant to discuss the extent of the damage to the tenant's unit and whether any reasonable alternatives to terminating the rental agreement are available and (ii) has determined whether a substantially similar unit within the same complex is available for rent within a reasonable time for the tenant to move into such unit and if so, has offered to lease such unit to the tenant under the tenant's current lease terms.
If the lanSlord has removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired, in which case the rental agreement terminates shall terminate as of the expiration of the notice period;
If the landlord has met the requirements of this subdivision and the landlord has determined that such damage requires the agreement terminates shall terminate as of the expiration of the notice period;
or 2.
orin which case the rental 2.
S make a written request to have the landlord reevaluate the extent of the damage and habitability of the tenant's unit.
D.
Within seven days of receiving the termination notice pursuant to subdivision C 1, a tenant may make a written request to have the landlord reevaluate the extent of the damage and habitability of the tenant's unit.
If, after meeting with the tenant or making a reasonable effort to meet with the tenant, the landlord determines that such damage :
If, after meeting with the requires the removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired, the rental agreement shall terminate at the expiration of the original notice period.
36 requires the removal of the tenant and that the use of the premises is substantially impaired, The rental 37 agreement shall terminate at the expiration of the original notice period.
E.
U 39 with § 55.1-1226 and prepaid rent, plus accrued interest, recoverable by law unless the landlordaccordance 40 reasonably believes that the tenant, an authorized occupant, or a guest or invitee of the tenant was the cause of the damage or casualty, in which case the landlord shall provide a written statement tE the tenant for the security and prepaid rent, plus accrued interest based upon the damage or casualty, and termination or apportionment shall be made as of the date of the casualty.r rent in the event of B H 1
If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all security deposits in accordance with § 55.1-1226 and prepaid rent, plus accrued interest, recoverable by law unless the landlord reasonably believes that the tenant, an authorized occupant, or a guest or invitee of the tenant was the cause of the damage or casualty, in which case the landlord shall provide a written statement to the may recover actual damages sustained pursuant to § 55.1-1251.
Proration for rent in the event ofy, and termination or apportionment shall be made as of the date of the casualty.
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 17, 2024

  2. Communicated to Governor

  3. VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 100-N)

  4. House rejected Governor's recommendation (0-Y 100-N)

  5. Passed by until Reconvene, Wednesday, April 17, 2024

  6. Placed on Calendar

  7. Governor's recommendation received by House

  8. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

  9. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024

  10. Signed by President

  11. Signed by Speaker

  12. Impact statement from DPB (HB588ER)

  13. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB588ER)

  14. Enrolled

  15. Passed Senate (30-Y 9-N)

  16. Read third time

  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

  18. Reported from General Laws and Technology (12-Y 3-N)

  19. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed

  21. VOTE: Passage (69-Y 29-N)

  22. Read third time and passed House (69-Y 29-N)

  23. Read third time and passed House (69-Y 29-N)

  24. Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB588H1

  25. Committee substitute agreed to 24106219D-H1

  26. Read second time

  27. Read first time

  28. Impact statement from DPB (HB588H1)

  29. Committee substitute printed 24106219D-H1

  30. Reported from General Laws with substitute (21-Y 1-N)

  31. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)

  32. House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

  33. Impact statement from DPB (HB588)

  34. Assigned GL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

  35. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  36. Referred from Courts of Justice

  37. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  38. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104482D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 144 not signed on · 106 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (144)

144 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 144 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Failed 0 Yea · 99 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 09900
Total 09900
% of votes cast 0%100%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Nay
Alex Q. Askew — Nay
Alfonso H. Lopez — Nay
Amy J. Laufer — Nay
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Nay
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Nay
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Nay
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
Bulova, David L. — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Nay
Charniele L. Herring — Nay
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Nay
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Nay
David A. Reid — Nay
Debra D. Gardner — Nay
Delores L. McQuinn — Nay
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Nay
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Nay
Irene Shin — Nay
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Nay
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Nay
Joshua G. Cole — Nay
Kannan Srinivasan — Nay
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Nay
Karrie K. Delaney — Nay
Kathy K.L. Tran — Nay
Katrina Callsen — Nay
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Nay
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Nay
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Nay
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Nay
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Nay
Marcus B. Simon — Nay
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Marty Martinez — Nay
Michael B. Feggans — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Nay
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Nay
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Nay
Paul E. Krizek — Nay
Phil M. Hernandez — Nay
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Nay
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Nay
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Nay
Rodney T. Willett — Nay
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Nay
Sam Rasoul — Nay
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Nay
Sickles, Mark D. — Nay
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Nay
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Passed Senate (30-Y 9-N)

Passed 30 Yea · 9 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 30901
Total 30901
% of votes cast 75%23%0%3%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 38002
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 12 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12300
Total 12300
% of votes cast 80%20%0%0%
How each member voted (15)

Official roll call →

VOTE: Passage (69-Y 29-N)

Passed 68 Yea · 29 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 682902
Total 682902
% of votes cast 69%29%0%2%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Not Voting
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Not Voting
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Passed 21 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21100
Total 21100
% of votes cast 95%5%0%0%
How each member voted (22)

Official roll call →

Passed 7 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7101
Total 7101
% of votes cast 78%11%0%11%
How each member voted (9)

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 588 do?
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 to offer the tenant a substantially similar 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 certain provisions. 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. 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 unit unless the landlord has determined that the damage was caused by the tenant's failure to maintain the dwelling unit.
Who sponsors HB 588?
HB 588 is sponsored by Adele Y. McClure, Nadarius E. Clark, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., and Irene Shin.
What is the current status of HB 588?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 588?
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