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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>74874</law_id><section_number>55.1-1218</section_number><catch_line>Required disclosures for properties with defective drywall; remedy for nondisclosure</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Rental Conveyances</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Landlord Obligations</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> of a <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> has actual knowledge of the existence of <span class="dictionary">defective drywall</span> in such <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> that has not been remediated, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall provide to a prospective <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> a written disclosure that the property has <span class="dictionary">defective drywall</span>. Such disclosure shall be provided prior to the execution by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> of a written <span class="dictionary">lease agreement</span> or, in the case of an oral <span class="dictionary">lease agreement</span>, prior to occupancy by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>. For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">defective drywall</span>&#x201D; means all <span class="dictionary">defective drywall</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/36-156.1/">36-156.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-269010" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1218/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> who is not provided the disclosure required by subsection A may terminate the <span class="dictionary">lease agreement</span> at any time within 60 days of <span class="dictionary">discovery</span> of the existence of <span class="dictionary">defective drywall</span> by providing <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> in accordance with the lease or as required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. Such termination shall be effective as of (i) 15 days after the date of the mailing of the notice or (ii) the date through which <span class="dictionary">rent</span> has been paid, whichever is later. In no event, however, shall the effective date of the termination exceed one month from the date of mailing. Termination of the <span class="dictionary">lease agreement</span> shall be the exclusive remedy for the failure to comply with the disclosure provisions of this section, and shall not affect any rights or duties of the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> or <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> arising under this chapter, other applicable <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>. <a id="paragraph-269011" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1218/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2011, cc. 34, 46, &#xA7; 55-248.12:2; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
