HB804:

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; nonrefundable application fee, limitations.

Bill Summary:

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;
nonrefundable application fee; limitations. Places limitations
on when a landlord may charge a nonrefundable application fee in
addition to a refundable application deposit. The bill prohibits
a landlord with more than four rental dwelling units or more than
a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units from
charging prospective tenants any nonrefundable application fee in
excess of the amount necessary to reimburse the landlord for any
actual out-of-pocket expenses paid by the landlord to a third party
performing a number of pre-occupancy checks on the applicant. The
bill allows an applicant to choose to provide certain information
to the landlord in the form of a portable tenant screening report
in lieu of paying an application fee. When an applicant chooses not
to provide such report, a landlord that owns four or fewer rental
dwelling units may charge such applicant actual out-of-pocket expenses
paid by the landlord to a third party performing certain pre-occupancy
checks on the applicant or, in the case of an application for a public
housing unit, an application fee of no more than $32, including any
actual out-of-pocket expenses paid to a third party by the landlord
performing background, credit, or other pre-occupancy checks on the
applicant.