{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-1209.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-1209.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-1209.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-1209.1.html"}],"law_id":67680,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67680,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1209.1","catch_line":"Employees of the landlord; rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes; policies and procedures","history":"2023, c. 432.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, &#8220;key&#8221; means any physical or electronic mechanism used to gain access to a rental dwelling unit.B\n\nAny landlord who owns more than 200 rental dwelling units that are attached to the same piece of real property in the Commonwealth shall establish:1\n\nA policy requiring any applicant for employment in any position that will have access to keys for each rental dwelling unit to be subject to a pre-employment criminal history records check; and2\n\nWritten policies and procedures regarding the (i) storage, issuance and return, and security of; (ii) access to; and (iii) if applicable, usage and deactivation of rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes.C\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) a financial institution, as defined in &#xA7; 6.2-100, or (ii) any person who is a real estate licensee pursuant to Chapter 21 (&#xA7; 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":245181,"text":"As used in this section, &#8220;key&#8221; means any physical or electronic mechanism used to gain access to a rental dwelling unit.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":245182,"text":"Any landlord who owns more than 200 rental dwelling units that are attached to the same piece of real property in the Commonwealth shall establish:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":245183,"text":"A policy requiring any applicant for employment in any position that will have access to keys for each rental dwelling unit to be subject to a pre-employment criminal history records check; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":245184,"text":"Written policies and procedures regarding the (i) storage, issuance and return, and security of; (ii) access to; and (iii) if applicable, usage and deactivation of rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":245185,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) a financial institution, as defined in &#xA7; 6.2-100, or (ii) any person who is a real estate licensee pursuant to Chapter 21 (&#xA7; 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15277,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:32","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:32","permalink":{"id":245887,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15277,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1","url":"\/55.1\/III\/12\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13073,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:53","permalink":{"id":245885,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14100,"identifier":"12","token":"55.1\/III\/12","url":"\/55.1\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13073,"edition_id":1,"name":"Rental Conveyances","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12707,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":245883,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13073,"identifier":"III","token":"55.1\/III","url":"\/55.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12707,"edition_id":1,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":244769,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12707,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61413,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/55.1-1200\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1200","metadata":false},{"id":83636,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1201","catch_line":"Applicability of chapter; local authority","url":"\/55.1-1201\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1201","metadata":false},{"id":69095,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1202","catch_line":"Notice","url":"\/55.1-1202\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1202","metadata":false},{"id":58146,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1203","catch_line":"Application; deposit, fee, and additional information","url":"\/55.1-1203\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1203","metadata":false},{"id":82906,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1204","catch_line":"Terms and conditions of rental agreement; payment of rent; copy of rental agreement for tenant","url":"\/55.1-1204\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1204","metadata":false},{"id":84327,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1204.1","catch_line":"Fee disclosure statement","url":"\/55.1-1204.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1204.1","metadata":false},{"id":62292,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1205","catch_line":"Prepaid rent; maintenance of escrow account","url":"\/55.1-1205\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1205","metadata":false},{"id":68710,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1206","catch_line":"Landlord may obtain certain insurance for tenant","url":"\/55.1-1206\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1206","metadata":false},{"id":60062,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1207","catch_line":"Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement","url":"\/55.1-1207\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1207","metadata":false},{"id":64224,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1208","catch_line":"Prohibited provisions in rental agreements","url":"\/55.1-1208\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1208","metadata":false},{"id":67212,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1208.1","catch_line":"Rental agreements; child care","url":"\/55.1-1208.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1208.1","metadata":false},{"id":81763,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1209","catch_line":"Confidentiality of tenant records","url":"\/55.1-1209\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1209","metadata":false},{"id":67680,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1209.1","catch_line":"Employees of the landlord; rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes; policies and procedures","url":"\/55.1-1209.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1209.1","metadata":false},{"id":75393,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1210","catch_line":"Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access","url":"\/55.1-1210\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1210","metadata":false},{"id":65452,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1211","catch_line":"Appointment of resident agent by nonresident property owner; service of process, etc., on such agent or on Secretary of the Commonwealth","url":"\/55.1-1211\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1211","metadata":false},{"id":67894,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1212","catch_line":"Energy submetering, energy allocation equipment, sewer and water submetering equipment, and ratio utility billing systems; local government fees","url":"\/55.1-1212\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1212","metadata":false},{"id":61504,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1213","catch_line":"Transfer of deposits upon purchase","url":"\/55.1-1213\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1213","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":81763,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1209","catch_line":"Confidentiality of tenant records","url":"\/55.1-1209\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1209","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75393,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1210","catch_line":"Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access","url":"\/55.1-1210\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1210","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-1209.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2023. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?231+ful+CHAP0432\">432<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":74059,"section_number":"54.1-2100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2100\/"},{"id":80540,"section_number":"6.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/6.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":245937,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67680,"identifier":"55.1-1209.1","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1209.1","url":"\/55.1-1209.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-1209.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1209.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Employees of the landlord; rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes; policies and procedures","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-1209.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> As used in this section, &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">key<\/span>&#8221; means any physical or electronic mechanism used to gain access to a rental <span class=\"dictionary\">dwelling unit<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-245181\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/55.1-1209.1\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Any <span class=\"dictionary\">landlord<\/span> who owns more than 200 rental <span class=\"dictionary\">dwelling units<\/span> that are attached to the same piece of real property in the Commonwealth shall establish: <a id=\"paragraph-245182\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/55.1-1209.1\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> A policy requiring any applicant for employment in any position that will have access to <span class=\"dictionary\">keys<\/span> for each rental <span class=\"dictionary\">dwelling unit<\/span> to be subject to a pre-employment criminal history records check; and <a id=\"paragraph-245183\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/55.1-1209.1\/#B1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Written policies and procedures regarding the (i) storage, issuance and return, and security of; (ii) access to; and (iii) if applicable, usage and deactivation of rental <span class=\"dictionary\">dwelling unit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">keys<\/span> and electronic <span class=\"dictionary\">key<\/span> codes. <a id=\"paragraph-245184\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/55.1-1209.1\/#B2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) a financial institution, as defined in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Definitions\" href=\"\/6.2-100\/\">6.2-100<\/a>, or (ii) any <span class=\"dictionary\">person<\/span> who is a real estate licensee pursuant to Chapter 21 (&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Definitions\" href=\"\/54.1-2100\/\">54.1-2100<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1. <a id=\"paragraph-245185\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/55.1-1209.1\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEMPLOYEES OF THE LANDLORD; RENTAL DWELLING UNIT KEYS AND ELECTRONIC KEY CODES;\nPOLICIES AND PROCEDURES (\u00a7 55.1-1209.1)\n\nA. As used in this section, &#8220;key&#8221; means any physical or electronic\nmechanism used to gain access to a rental dwelling unit.\n\nB. Any landlord who owns more than 200 rental dwelling units that are attached\nto the same piece of real property in the Commonwealth shall establish:\n\n   1. A policy requiring any applicant for employment in any position that will\n   have access to keys for each rental dwelling unit to be subject to a\n   pre-employment criminal history records check; and\n\n   2. Written policies and procedures regarding the (i) storage, issuance and\n   return, and security of; (ii) access to; and (iii) if applicable, usage and\n   deactivation of rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes.\n\nC. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) a financial\ninstitution, as defined in &#xA7; 6.2-100, or (ii) any person who is a real\nestate licensee pursuant to Chapter 21 (&#xA7; 54.1-2100 et seq.) of Title 54.1.\n\nHISTORY: 2023, c. 432.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}