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James is a licensed property manager in Virginia overseeing a residential rental property in Charlottesville. The furnace breaks down in January, leaving the tenant without heat. The tenant notifies James in writing. Under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, what is the landlord's primary obligation in this situation?

Correct Answer

B) The landlord must maintain the premises in a habitable condition and make the repair within a reasonable time after receiving written notice.

Under Va. Code § 55.1-1220, the VRLTA imposes a statutory duty on landlords to maintain residential rental property in a habitable condition, including functioning heating systems. After receiving written notice from the tenant, the landlord must act within a reasonable time to remedy the condition. Failure to do so may give the tenant remedies including rent escrow or termination of the tenancy.

Answer Options
A
The landlord must repair the furnace only if the lease specifically requires it, because Virginia is a caveat emptor state for rentals.
B
The landlord must maintain the premises in a habitable condition and make the repair within a reasonable time after receiving written notice.
C
The landlord may wait up to 60 days to make repairs if the tenant continues to pay rent without objection.
D
The landlord is only obligated to repair if the malfunction was caused by the landlord's own negligence.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

habitabilityvrltalandlord_obligationsrepairsproperty_management

Related Concepts

The National Do Not Call Registry is a federal program administered by the FTC that allows consumers to opt out of receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls, including calls from real estate agents soliciting business.

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