Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1220
Landlord to maintain fit premises.
Operative Text
A. The landlord shall: 1. Comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety; 2. Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition; 3. Keep all common areas shared by two or more dwelling units of a multifamily premises in a clean and structurally safe condition; 4. Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him; 5. Maintain the premises in such a condition as to prevent the accumulation of moisture and the growth of mold and promptly respond to any notices from a tenant as provided in subdivision A 10 of § 55.1-1227 . Where there is visible evidence of mold, the landlord shall promptly remediate the mold conditions in accordance with the requirements of subsection E of § 8.01-226.12 and reinspect the dwelling unit to confirm that there is no longer visible evidence of mold in the dwelling unit. The landlord shall provide a tenant with a copy of a summary of information related to mold remediation occurring during that tenancy and, upon request of the tenant, make available the full package of such information and reports not protected by attorney-client privilege. Once the mold has been remediated in accordance with professional standards, the landlord shall not be required to make disclosures of a past incidence of mold to subsequent tenants; 6. Provide and maintain appropriate receptacles and conveniences for the collection, storage, and removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of dwelling units and arrange for the removal of same; 7. Supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable air conditioning if provided and heat in season except where the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat, air conditioning, or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant or supplied by a direct public utility connection; and 8. Provide a certificate to the tenant stating that all smoke alarms are present, have been inspected, and are in good working order no more than once every 12 months. The landlord, his employee, or an independent contractor may perform the inspection to determine that the smoke alarm is in good working order. B. The landlord shall perform the duties imposed by subsection A in accordance with law; however, the landlord shall only be liable for the tenant's actual damages proximately caused by the landlord's failure to exercise ordinary care. C. If the duty imposed by subdivision A 1 is greater than any duty imposed by any other subdivision of that subsection, the landlord's duty shall be determined by reference to subdivision A 1. D. The landlord and tenant may agree in writing that the tenant perform the landlord's duties specified in subdivisions A 3, 6, and 7 and also specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations, and remodeling, but only if the transaction is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord and if the agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants in the premises.
Virginia Code § 55.1-1220 establishes a broad set of maintenance obligations that landlords must meet to keep rental housing safe and livable. These duties cover everything from compliance with building and housing codes to maintaining working utilities, controlling mold, keeping common areas clean and structurally sound, and ensuring functioning smoke alarms. The law limits a landlord's financial exposure to a tenant's actual damages that are directly caused by the landlord's failure to exercise ordinary care, and it allows certain maintenance responsibilities to be shifted to tenants by written agreement, provided the arrangement is made in good faith.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Va. Code § 55.1-1220 generally maintain documented inspection schedules for electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, as well as elevators and smoke alarms. When a tenant reports visible mold, compliant operators respond promptly, arrange remediation that meets the professional standards referenced in § 8.01-226.12, conduct a reinspection, and provide the tenant with a summary of the remediation work. If any maintenance duties listed in subdivisions A 3, 6, or 7 are to be transferred to a tenant, operators typically document that arrangement in a separate written agreement that is clearly entered in good faith and does not affect obligations owed to other tenants in the building.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1220, tenants in Virginia have the right to rental premises that meet building and housing code standards, include functioning utilities and appliances, and are kept free from conditions that promote mold growth. If a landlord fails to meet these obligations, a tenant may be entitled to recover actual damages that were directly caused by that failure, and raising a violation of § 55.1-1220 can be relevant in disputes over habitability. Tenants who believe these standards are not being met can document conditions in writing, review the notice procedures referenced in § 55.1-1227, and consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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