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Proposed Legislation Would Side with Tenants in Cases of Eviction

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It’s unlawful for landlords to evict tenants for taking legal action or notifying authorities about uninhabitable conditions, but tenants may have little recourse under current state law.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, proposed legislation would make it less difficult for tenants to win a case if retaliation is a cause of eviction.

Tenants have a right to decent conditions, but the Virginia Poverty Law Center’s Christie Marra says fear of losing their home makes them afraid to assert those rights. 

“They ARE entitled to bring forth a case when the landlord isn’t providing hot water or isn’t keeping the plumbing in good working order.  They are protected if they file a fair housing complaint alleging discrimination or call the building code inspector.”

Currently, a tenant must prove that retaliation was the PRIMARY reason for eviction. Marra says a bill removing the word “primary” would clarify the law for a judge.

“He or she doesn’t have to worry about whether there might be other reasons and which reason was primary and which reason was secondary.”

The General Assembly will consider the bill next month.