Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1219
Required disclosures for property previously used to manufacture methamphetamine; remedy for nondisclosure.
Operative Text
A. If the landlord of a dwelling unit has actual knowledge that the dwelling unit was previously used to manufacture methamphetamine and has not been cleaned up in accordance with the guidelines established pursuant to § 32.1-11.7 and the applicable licensing provisions of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1, the landlord shall provide to a prospective tenant a written disclosure that states such information. Such disclosure shall be provided prior to the execution by the tenant of a written lease agreement or, in the case of an oral lease agreement, prior to occupancy by the tenant. B. Any tenant who is not provided the disclosure required by subsection A may terminate the lease agreement at any time within 60 days of discovery that the property was previously used to manufacture methamphetamine and has not been cleaned up in accordance with the guidelines established pursuant to § 32.1-11.7 by providing written notice to the landlord in accordance with the lease or as required by law. Such termination shall be effective as of (i) 15 days after the date of the mailing of the notice or (ii) the date through which rent has been paid, whichever is later. In no event, however, shall the effective date of the termination exceed one month from the date of mailing. Termination of the lease agreement shall be the exclusive remedy for the failure to comply with the disclosure provisions required by this section and shall not affect any rights or duties of the landlord or tenant arising under this chapter, other applicable law, or the rental agreement.
Virginia Code § 55.1-1219 requires landlords who have actual knowledge that a dwelling unit was previously used to manufacture methamphetamine — and that the unit has not been cleaned up according to state health guidelines under § 32.1-11.7 — to give prospective tenants a written disclosure of that fact before a lease is signed or, for oral leases, before move-in. If a landlord fails to provide this disclosure, the tenant gains a specific right to terminate the lease within 60 days of discovering the undisclosed history. Termination under this provision is the exclusive remedy for the disclosure failure itself, though other rights under the lease or applicable law remain intact.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1219, property owners and managers who have actual knowledge of prior methamphetamine manufacturing activity at a unit are generally expected to document that knowledge and provide a written disclosure to any prospective tenant before the lease is executed. Compliant operators typically retain a copy of the signed disclosure as part of the leasing file to demonstrate that the requirement was met. If the property has been remediated in full compliance with § 32.1-11.7 and the applicable contractor licensing provisions, the disclosure obligation under this section does not apply, so maintaining thorough remediation records is a common practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1219 gives tenants the right to receive a written disclosure before signing a lease — or before moving in under an oral lease — if the landlord knows the unit was previously used to manufacture methamphetamine and has not been properly cleaned up. If that disclosure was not provided, tenants have up to 60 days from the date they discover the undisclosed history to send written notice terminating the lease, with the termination taking effect no later than one month after the notice is mailed. Tenants who believe this right applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Virginia housing law to understand the notice requirements and how this remedy interacts with other protections under the lease or state law.
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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