Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1259
Actions to enforce chapter.
Operative Text
A. In addition to any other remedies in this chapter, any person adversely affected by an act or omission prohibited under this chapter may institute an action for injunction and damages against the person responsible for such act or omission in the circuit court in the county or city in which such act or omission occurred. If the court finds that the defendant was responsible for such act or omission, it shall enjoin the defendant from continuance of such practice and, in its discretion, award the plaintiff damages as provided in this section. B. If a condition exists in a dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not remedied within a reasonable time frame, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of a tenant or occupant of the premises, including infestation of rodents or a lack of heat, hot or cold running water, electricity, or adequate sewage disposal facilities, a locality may institute an action on behalf of any tenant or occupant of the premises who is injured by such material noncompliance for injunction and damages in the circuit court in the county or city in which the dwelling unit is located to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the premises where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the premises, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time frame after receiving such notice. If the court finds that the landlord failed to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, it shall enjoin the landlord from continuance of such practice and, in its discretion, award damages to any tenant or occupant of the premises on behalf of whom the action was brought.
Va. Code § 55.1-1259 establishes two enforcement pathways for violations of Virginia's residential landlord-tenant law. First, any person harmed by a prohibited act or omission may sue in circuit court for an injunction to stop the conduct and for monetary damages. Second, when a dwelling unit has a condition that poses a fire hazard or serious threat to life, health, or safety—such as rodent infestation or lack of heat, water, or sewage—a local government may step in and file suit on behalf of affected tenants or occupants, provided the landlord received notice and failed to remedy the problem within a reasonable time.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1259, compliant operators generally respond promptly to any written notice from a locality identifying habitability violations—such as lack of heat, running water, or pest infestations—and document their remediation efforts to demonstrate timely correction. Failure to remedy a noticed violation within a reasonable time frame can expose a landlord to circuit court proceedings initiated not only by individual tenants but also by the local government itself. Maintaining properties in fit and habitable condition and keeping records of maintenance requests and repairs are practices consistent with avoiding liability under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1259 gives tenants who are adversely affected by a landlord's prohibited act or omission the right to bring a circuit court action seeking both an injunction against the ongoing conduct and monetary damages. Tenants may also benefit from enforcement actions brought by their local government on their behalf when serious habitability conditions—such as rodent infestation, lack of heat, or inadequate sewage—go unaddressed after the landlord has been notified. Tenants experiencing such conditions may consider contacting their local housing or code enforcement office, as well as a tenant-rights organization, to understand the full range of options available under this provision.
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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