Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1248
Remedy by repair, etc.; emergencies.
Operative Text
If there is a violation by the tenant of § 55.1-1227 or the rental agreement materially affecting health and safety that can be remedied by repair, replacement of a damaged item, or cleaning, the landlord shall send a written notice to the tenant specifying the breach and stating that the landlord will enter the dwelling unit and perform the work in a workmanlike manner and submit an itemized bill for the actual and reasonable cost for such work to the tenant, which shall be due as rent on the next rent due date or, if the rental agreement has terminated, for immediate payment. In case of emergency the landlord may, as promptly as conditions require, enter the dwelling unit, perform the work in a workmanlike manner, and submit an itemized bill for the actual and reasonable cost for such work to the tenant, which shall be due as rent on the next rent due date or, if the rental agreement has terminated, for immediate payment. The landlord may perform the repair, replacement, or cleaning or may engage a third party to do so.
Virginia Code § 55.1-1248 establishes a process by which a landlord may address certain tenant-caused violations of health and safety standards—or breaches of the rental agreement—by entering the unit and performing necessary repair, replacement, or cleaning work. In non-emergency situations, the landlord must first send the tenant a written notice identifying the specific breach before entering. In emergencies, the landlord may enter and perform the work as promptly as conditions require, without prior notice. In either case, the landlord submits an itemized bill for the actual and reasonable cost of the work, which becomes due as rent on the next rent due date or immediately if the lease has ended.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1248, operators who identify a tenant-caused health-and-safety violation or material breach of the rental agreement generally document the condition thoroughly before taking action. In non-emergency situations, compliant practice involves sending a written notice to the tenant that clearly identifies the breach and describes the planned remediation work before entering the unit. The landlord may perform the work personally or hire a qualified third party, and should retain itemized records of all actual and reasonable costs, since those costs are billed to the tenant and treated as rent due on the next payment date.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1248 governs situations where a landlord claims a tenant has caused a health-and-safety violation or material breach of the rental agreement and intends to enter the unit to remedy it. In non-emergency circumstances, a tenant should expect to receive a written notice specifying the alleged breach before the landlord enters; if no such notice was provided outside of an emergency, that procedural requirement may be relevant to any dispute over the charges. Tenants who believe the billed costs are inaccurate, unreasonable, or improperly classified as rent may want to review the itemized bill carefully and consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for guidance on 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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