It's much easier for landlords to manage their property and avoid potential damage from the start than to let it go and be surprised later. An application fee is any fee other than a security deposit paid to the landlord before signing a lease. You should never sign a lease agreement until your request has been accepted. Actual damages for breach of the rental agreement may include a claim for the rental that would have accumulated until the term of the rental agreement expired or until a lease began under a new rental agreement, whichever comes first, provided that nothing in this section diminishes the landlord's obligation to mitigate actual damage in the event of a breach of the rental agreement. In case of an emergency, the landlord can enter the housing unit, carry out necessary works professionally and submit an itemized bill for the real and reasonable cost of such work, which will be due as rent on the next rental due date or, if the rental agreement has ended, as immediate payment.
At the end of the lease, the tenant is responsible for paying the landlord the reasonable costs incurred to remove all such devices and repair all damaged areas. However, if the tenant presents a good-faith defense and the court so determines, the court will not require that the rent be deposited as security. From the end date of tenancy or when the tenant leaves the housing unit, whichever occurs last, they must surrender possession of it to landlord. Once mold has been remedied in accordance with professional standards, landlords will not be required to disclose past incidences of mold to subsequent tenants. If it turns out that the tenant has filed a defense under this section in bad faith or has caused the violation or has unreasonably refused to enter the landlord in order to correct the condition that gave rise to the violation, then court may impose on them reasonable costs including court costs, repair costs if tenant caused violation and reasonable attorneys' fees. In addition, landlords are liable for any damage tenants suffer as a result of not being able to move at start of tenancy, whether they decide to cancel lease or not. If court agrees that condition of house or apartment poses serious threat to life, health or safety then tenant must deposit rent payments into blocked escrow account until dispute is resolved. Before tenants are entitled to deposit rent under warranty, they must duly notify landlord and give them sufficient time to carry out repairs.
Unless otherwise agreed, landlords who deliver in good faith to bona fide purchaser property that includes housing unit subject to rental agreement are exempt from liability under rental agreement and this chapter for events that occur after notification of assignment to tenant. Nothing shall be construed to prevent landlords from seeking compensation for costs or attorney's fees as part of other compensation sought from illegal detainee filed in accordance with § 8.01-126, provided they have given notice in accordance with § 55.1-1202, which may be included in five-day notice of termination provided pursuant to this section. If landlords obtain renter's insurance for their tenants then they must provide each tenant before execution of rental agreement with summary of insurance policy prepared by insurer or certificate attesting coverage provided and upon tenant's request make available copy of insurance policy.
