Landlord Education
- Benefits of Being Rent Ready Certified
- Preparing For a Renter
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Common City Standards
- Helpful Resources
Benefits of Being Rent Ready
By being Rent Ready, you will become a more informed landlord or property manager, have access to free and quality services, have access to free and quality resources and have access to exclusive benefits of being Rent Ready.
Become a More Informed Landlord or Property Manager
- You will have a better understanding of your roles and responsibilities as a landlord or property manager and you will learn what your renter’s roles and responsibilities are as well.
- You will be able to make better decisions when it comes to creating a lease that meets the standards of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Code of Virginia, renting out your unit(s) or home, selecting and qualifying a renter for your property, and maintenance of your property.
- You will have a blueprint to make your property management and renting experience easier for you and your renter(s) because Rent Ready Norfolk will lay out a road map to make your experience successful.
Have Access to Free and Quality Services
- Quality Assessment: Before your renter moves into your property, you can request a quality assessment of your unit’s interior, exterior, and common areas to ensure your unit is "Rent Ready."
- Workshops: Understanding property management and the renting process is now easier with regularly available courses on topics on, such as but not limited to, Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Rights and Responsibilities as a Landlord, Fair Housing, Property Management: A Reliable Landlord, and Property Maintenance: Keeping Up the Quality. Workshops are offered to first-time and current landlords or property managers—it is never too early or too late to understand the property management and renting process.
- Property Listing: Marketing your properties has now gotten easier with our online property search engine that allows potential renters to view your units that are certified as “Rent Ready.”
Have Access to Free and Quality Resources
- Landlord and Tenant Relations Officer can assist you with any rental-related concerns. This resource is available when issues arise between a landlord and a tenant and/or when general advice is needed. For assistance, please contact the City’s Landlord-Tenant Officer, Erica High at 757-664-7368.
- Norfolk Cares Center is a single point of contact for residents, businesses, and visitors. Through Norfolk Cares, residents can request a city service, obtain information on city services, or receive an update on a previous request for city services. Norfolk Cares also serves as the non-emergency hotline for the City of Norfolk. To request a service and/or learn about a city service, please contact the Norfolk Cares Center at 757-664-6510 or e-mail healthyneighborhoods@norfolk.gov.
- Neighborhood Quality is committed to effectively improving the life of the residents of Norfolk and the preservation of their neighborhoods through the enforcement of applicable building and property regulations aimed at the protection of public health, safety, and welfare. For assistance, please contact Neighborhood Quality through Norfolk Cares at 757-664-6510 or e-mail healthyneighborhoods@norfolk.gov
Access to Exclusive Benefits of Being Rent Ready
- Marketing for your properties and/or unit(s) will become more affordable. You can list and market your certified properties or unit(s) on our website for free — there is no limit to the number of units or properties you can list.
- Good Neighbor Status working with Rent Ready Norfolk will assist you with building and maintaining a reputation as a high-quality landlord or property manager. Rent Ready Norfolk works with residents, civic leagues, community partners, anchor institutions and other city departments throughout the City of Norfolk. Partnering with and being an active participant in the Rent Ready Norfolk program will designate you as a "Good Neighbor" to the City of Norfolk and it's neighborhoods, once the criteria of Rent Ready Norfolk has been fulfilled.
For more information on Rent Ready Norfolk, services, or resources, please click HERE Benefits of Being Rent Ready Benefits of Being Rent Ready Benefits of Being Rent Ready or contact us by phone at 757-664-RENT or by e-mail at rentready@norfolk.gov
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Preparing For a Renter
Now that you have screened potential renters and chosen the best fit, it is time to prepare the property for the renter to move in. These are recommended steps for landlords to take to make this process as smooth as possible.
Repair Damages, Health and Safety Issues
Repair all existing damages such as, but not limited to, broken windows, broken doors, and holes in the wall before the renter arrives. Check and resolve life, health and safety issues before the renter arrives. This includes, but not limited to, ensuring that all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly, checking for signs of mold, pests/rodents, and water damage. If the unit does not have smoke detectors, install them near the kitchen, in the hall, and in each bedroom before the renter arrives or contact the City of Norfolk’s Fire-Rescue Department to schedule a smoke alarm installation today by calling the Norfolk Cares Center at (757) 664-6510 or completing an online form.
Thoroughly Clean
Clean the unit’s kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, halls, and common area. Remove debris and trash by vacuuming and sweeping, and have the units exterminated even if there are no signs of pest.
Ensure that Heating, Plumbing, and Electricity Are Working Properly
Before the renter takes responsibility of the unit’s utilities verify that:
- the heating is working properly in all the rooms
- there are no clogs or leaks in plumbing,
- the outlets and lighting in each room are operational.
Change Locks
Always change the locks to the entry doors of the unit before a new renter moves in for their safety and to protect you from liability.
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Landlord's Rights & Responsibilities
As a landlord or property manager in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you need to be aware of your roles and responsibilities as it relates to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA), Code of Virginia's Chapter 13-Landlord and Tenant, and Fair Housing.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) establishes the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords. The VRLTA applies to all single-family and multifamily residential dwelling units located in Virginia. Landlords who own no more than two single-family residential dwelling units subject to a rental agreement may opt out of the VRLTA by stating so in the rental agreement.
Code of Virginia's Chapter 13 - Landlord and Tenant
Code of Virginia's Chapter 13 applies if the landlord is exempt from the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) and expressly opts out of the VRLTA by stating it in the rental agreement. Section Codes 55-225.01 through 55-225.48 of Chapter 13 will apply.
Fair Housing Law
Federal and state fair housing law protects people from discrimination when trying to rent an apartment, buy a house, obtain a mortgage, or purchase homeowner's insurance. Fair housing requirements apply to all housing providers: property managers, owners, landlords, real estate agents, banks, savings institutions, credit unions, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, and appraisers.
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Common City Standards
Like most cities, the City of Norfolk has standards in place to maintain attractive, safe and livable neighborhoods. Neighborhoods remain appealing when each member of the neighborhood reinforces the values of both the city and neighborhood. To ensure that Norfolk’s neighborhoods remain attractive, safe, and livable, it is important for you, as a landlord or a renter, to always:
- Cut your grass
- Place trash in city designated trash cans
- Remove the trash can from the collection area after the trash collection day
- Schedule bulk waste pick up for large items
- Park your car where parking is allowed
- Remove inoperable cars from residential areas
- Be respectful of your personal noise level
- Schedule quarterly preventative pest control maintenance
- Have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in all rooms and halls in your unit or home
- Be aware that single-family residences, when rented, may only be rented to four unrelated people together on one lease regardless of the size of the house and number of rooms. It is also illegal to list or rent out individual rooms.
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Helpful Resources
- Charting Your Course - The City of Norfolk’s property owner guide to increasing rental property value and enhancing property management. For more information click here.
- Federal & Virginia Fair Housing Act - The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting, buying, or securing financing for housing. The prohibitions specifically cover discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and the presence of children. Virginia Fair Housing Office is responsible for investigating a housing discrimination complaint, to file a complaint Click here
- How to be a Successful Renter - Prepared by the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) this eBook is designed to help be a successful renter. Click here to download the eBook.
- Landlord and Tenant Relations Officer - The City of Norfolk’s Landlord & Tenant Relations Officer aids landlords and renters with any rental related concerns and is available when issues arise between a landlord and a tenant and/or when general advice is needed by either a landlord or renter. For assistance, contact Norfolk’s Landlord & Tenant Relations Officer, Erica High, at: rentready@norfolk.gov.
- Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association- has a referral service where you can arrange for a 30-minute consult with an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law for $35 please call 800-552-7977.
- Norfolk Law Library- is a free resource and you can do research if you choose to. It is a public law library and non-profit foundation, is to serve the legal research needs of the general public, lawyers, and the courts. Contact them by phone at 757-622-2910.
- Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Handbook -The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Handbook has been prepared to provide information on the rights, remedies, and responsibilities of landlords and renters concerning the rental process. Before signing a lease, prospective tenants should read and understand the terms of the contract. Consulting a lawyer or the landlord for clarification of the rental agreement is advisable.
- Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities - This is a summary of tenants' rights and responsibilities under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. This summary does not modify your lease or Virginia law. A lease cannot give up a tenant's rights under the law. The information below is not intended as legal advice. Tenants with questions are encouraged to contact their local legal aid program (see above) at 866-534-5234 or valegalaid.org/find-legal-help. Visit Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities to download the statement that fits the needs of your tenant.
- Norfolk's General District Court Mediation Program - No-cost mediation is a voluntary process that is available to all parties involved in a dispute. To schedule a mediation orientation before a scheduled court hearing, contact Norfolk's Mediation Coordinator, Patricia Willis at: 757-739-0476 or patriciapritchardwillis@gmail.com. Click here to learn more about Norfolk's General District Court Mediation Program.
- Other Mediation Servicers- Wright Way Mediation, schedule mediation with Certified Mediator for the State of Virginia at at 757-347-0525, or contact@wrightwaymediation.com.
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Why become a certified landlord?
One of the many benefits of the Rent Ready program is that it makes the process of being a landlord or property manager easier for you. You are provided a comprehensive source of information, services and resources related to renting and being a landlord or property manager in one location and have a team of individuals ready to assist you if you need it to navigate the process of renting out your unit(s) and preparing for your next renter.
Get Certified in Three Easy Steps
- Complete a Rent Ready Norfolk Landlord Registration Form - The completion of the Rent Ready Norfolk Landlord Registration Form will confirm your participation in Rent Ready Norfolk program and allow access to all of program incentives.
- Complete the Rental Academy's Good Landlord Track -The completion of the Good Landlord Track can be achieved through either Option 1 or Option 2 of the track. The option(s) consist of:
- Option 1: This option will require you to complete four (4) core courses and two (2) electives of your choice.
- Option 2: This option will require you to receive an 80% or higher on the knowledge assessment and complete 2 elective courses from the Good Landlord Track.
- Complete an Initial Courtesy Quality Assessment - The completion of a quality assessment will involve an evaluation of the property's interior, exterior with a Pass score on the evaluation.
Once you have completed these 3 steps, your property will be designated as Rent Ready for a period of twelve (12) months, until it must be re-certified. For each property you want to be certified as Rent Ready during this period based on the Virginia Maintenance Code guidance.
Annual Maintenance of Your Status
Annual maintenance of your Rent Ready Norfolk status for each of your properties will require the completion of the following steps:
- Completion of an Annual Quality Assessment
- Completion of the Good Landlord Continuing Education Training