A. A landlord, from time to time, may adopt rules or regulations, however described, concerning the tenant's use and occupancy of the dwelling unit and premises. Any such rule or regulation is enforceable against the tenant only if:
1. Its purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants in the premises, preserve the landlord's property from abusive use, or make a fair distribution of services and facilities held out for the tenants generally;
2. It is reasonably related to the purpose for which it is adopted;
3. It applies to all tenants in the premises in a fair manner;
4. It is sufficiently explicit in its prohibition, direction, or limitation of the tenant's conduct to fairly inform him of what he is required to do or is prohibited from doing to comply;
5. It is not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord; and
6. The tenant has been provided with a copy of the rules and regulations or changes to such rules and regulations at the time he enters into the rental agreement or when they are adopted.
B. A rule or regulation adopted, changed, or provided to the tenant after the tenant enters into the rental agreement shall be enforceable against the tenant if reasonable notice of its adoption or change has been given to the tenant and it does not constitute a substantial modification of his bargain. If a rule or regulation adopted or changed after the tenant enters into the rental agreement does constitute a substantial modification of his bargain, it shall not be valid unless the tenant consents to it in writing.
C. Any court enforcing this chapter shall consider violations of the reasonable rules and regulations imposed under this section as a breach of the rental agreement and grant the landlord appropriate relief.
1974, c. 680, § 55-248.17; 2000, c. 760; 2017, c. 730; 2019, c. 712.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 55.1 - Property and Conveyances
Chapter 12 - Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
§ 55.1-1201. Applicability of chapter; local authority
§ 55.1-1203. Application; deposit, fee, and additional information
§ 55.1-1205. Prepaid rent; maintenance of escrow account
§ 55.1-1206. Landlord may obtain certain insurance for tenant
§ 55.1-1207. Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement
§ 55.1-1208. Prohibited provisions in rental agreements
§ 55.1-1208.1. Rental agreements; child care
§ 55.1-1209. Confidentiality of tenant records
§ 55.1-1210. Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access
§ 55.1-1213. Transfer of deposits upon purchase
§ 55.1-1214. Inspection of dwelling unit; report
§ 55.1-1215. Disclosure of mold in dwelling units
§ 55.1-1216. Disclosure of sale of premises
§ 55.1-1218. Required disclosures for properties with defective drywall; remedy for nondisclosure
§ 55.1-1220. Landlord to maintain fit premises
§ 55.1-1221. Landlord to provide locks and peepholes
§ 55.1-1222. Access of tenant to cable, satellite, and other television facilities
§ 55.1-1223. Notice to tenants for insecticide or pesticide use
§ 55.1-1224. Limitation of liability
§ 55.1-1225. Tenancy at will; effect of notice of change of terms or provisions of tenancy
§ 55.1-1226. Security deposits
§ 55.1-1227. Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
§ 55.1-1228. Rules and regulations
§ 55.1-1230. Access following entry of certain court orders
§ 55.1-1231. Relocation of tenant where mold remediation needs to be performed in the dwelling unit
§ 55.1-1232. Use and occupancy by tenant
§ 55.1-1233. Tenant to surrender possession of dwelling unit
§ 55.1-1234. Noncompliance by landlord
§ 55.1-1235. Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel
§ 55.1-1237. Notice to tenant in event of foreclosure
§ 55.1-1238. Failure to deliver possession
§ 55.1-1239. Wrongful failure to supply an essential service
§ 55.1-1240. Fire or casualty damage
§ 55.1-1241. Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent
§ 55.1-1242. Rent escrow required for continuance of tenant's case
§ 55.1-1244. Tenant's assertion; rent escrow
§ 55.1-1244.1. Tenant's remedy by repair
§ 55.1-1246. Barring guest or invitee of a tenant
§ 55.1-1247. Sheriffs authorized to serve certain notices; fee for service
§ 55.1-1248. Remedy by repair, etc.; emergencies
§ 55.1-1249. Remedies for absence, nonuse, and abandonment
§ 55.1-1250. Landlord's acceptance of rent with reservation; tenant's right of redemption
§ 55.1-1251. Remedy after termination
§ 55.1-1252. Recovery of possession limited
§ 55.1-1253. Periodic tenancy; holdover remedies
§ 55.1-1254. Disposal of property abandoned by tenants
§ 55.1-1256. Disposal of property of deceased tenants
§ 55.1-1257. Who may recover rent or possession
§ 55.1-1258. Retaliatory conduct prohibited
§ 55.1-1259. Actions to enforce chapter
§ 55.1-1261. (Expires July 1, 2024) Eviction Diversion Pilot Program; administration