Lets Tenants Sue Landlords Over Mold
Virginia · HB79 · Introduced Dec 31, 2025
Why it matters
Tenants could take landlords to court over homes that are not kept fit to live in and seek money. Landlords who willfully violate the law could owe up to three times the loss.
What it does
- Lets tenants sue landlords for court orders to stop prohibited acts and for damages
- Requires landlords to use ordinary care in making repairs and not delay them unreasonably
- Sets damages at actual losses or $500, whichever is greater
- Allows damages up to three times actual losses, or $1,000 if greater, for willful violations
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would let tenants sue landlords over rental law violations, with damages of actual loss or $500, whichever is greater.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Tenant groups would likely say renters need a real way to enforce repair duties. Fixed minimum damages give tenants a clear reason to bring claims.
💬 The case against
Some landlord groups would likely say higher damages could lead to more lawsuits. They may argue minimum awards are unfair when no real loss occurred.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
News
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