Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1215
Disclosure of mold in dwelling units.
Operative Text
As part of the written report of the move-in inspection required by § 55.1-1214 , the landlord shall disclose whether there is any visible evidence of mold in areas readily accessible within the interior of the dwelling unit. If the landlord's written disclosure states that there is no visible evidence of mold in the dwelling unit, this written statement shall be deemed correct unless the tenant objects to it in writing within five days after receiving the report. If the landlord's written disclosure states that there is visible evidence of mold in the dwelling unit, the tenant shall have the option to terminate the tenancy and not take possession or remain in possession of the dwelling unit. If the tenant requests to take possession, or remain in possession, of the dwelling unit, notwithstanding the presence of visible evidence of mold, the landlord shall promptly remediate the mold condition but in no event later than five business days after the tenant's request to take possession or decision to remain in possession, reinspect the dwelling unit to confirm that there is no visible evidence of mold in the dwelling unit, and prepare a new report stating that there is no visible evidence of mold in the dwelling unit upon reinspection.
Virginia Code § 55.1-1215 requires landlords to document, as part of the mandatory move-in inspection report, whether any visible mold is present in accessible interior areas of a dwelling unit. If the report states no mold is present, that finding is treated as accurate unless the tenant disputes it in writing within five days. When visible mold is disclosed, the tenant may choose to walk away from the tenancy or stay; if the tenant chooses to stay, the landlord must remediate the mold promptly—within five business days—and then reinspect and issue a new clean report.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1215, compliant operators include a clear mold-disclosure statement in every written move-in inspection report, covering all interior areas that are readily accessible. When visible mold is noted, landlords document the tenant's decision to take or decline possession, and if the tenant elects to stay, they complete remediation and a formal reinspection within five business days, then issue an updated report confirming no visible mold remains. Keeping dated, signed copies of all inspection reports, disclosure statements, and remediation records supports a clear paper trail under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1215 gives tenants meaningful rights at move-in: if the landlord's inspection report discloses visible mold, a tenant may choose to terminate the tenancy before taking possession rather than accepting a unit with a mold condition. If the report claims no mold is present but a tenant believes otherwise, that tenant has five days from receiving the report to object in writing, which preserves the dispute rather than allowing the landlord's statement to stand as conclusive. Tenants who believe a landlord has failed to disclose mold, remediate it within the required timeframe, or follow the reinspection process may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or Virginia's courts for guidance on available remedies.
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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