As a tenant, you have the right to a safe and healthy home, and the law says your landlord is responsible for that.
If repairs are needed, the first step is to notify the landlord in writing. This can be a letter, email, text message, or the app if there is one for the property. Then you have to give your landlord a reasonable amount of time to make the repairs. If the problem is an emergency, such as no heat in winter or a sewage problem, the landlord must fix it immediately. You also have to give the landlord access to your home to make the repairs.
If the landlord refuses to fix a health and safety issue, there are two legal ways to get the needed repairs.
File a Tenant’s Assertion and get a judge to order repairs.
If your landlord does not make repairs, you can file a case called a Tenant’s Assertion in court. To start the case, follow these steps:
Have certified contractor complete the repairs and deduct the cost from the rent.
If your landlord fails to make a repair that affects your health and safety, you can hire a licensed contractor to do it. Then you can legally reduce your rent by the amount you paid for the repairs. Follow these steps:
Virginia Poverty Law Center
919 East Main Street, Suite 610
Richmond, VA 23219
P: (804) 782-9430
F: (804) 649-0974