Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; submetering, energy allocation, & ratio utility billing sys.

This legislation updates Virginia’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to improve transparency regarding utility costs for renters. It establishes stricter requirements for landlords who use submetering or ratio utility billing systems to charge tenants for electricity, water, and sewer services. Landlords must now provide clearer documentation and justification for these utility charges before a lease is signed. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from profiting by charging administrative fees that exceed the actual costs of utility delivery. For Arlington renters, this measure aims to curb surprise utility bills and prevents landlords from shifting maintenance or infrastructure costs onto tenants. By creating standardized disclosure practices, the law ensures that utility billing is more equitable and predictable for residents living in multi-family housing across the county.