Are there any laws governing the use of tenant background checks?
Yes, there are laws governing the use of tenant background checks in Virginia. According to the Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act, landlords are required to use a tenant screening process to protect their property and other tenants. This includes verifying the identity and credit of the tenant, as well as doing a criminal background check. The law states that landlords must provide a copy of the background report to the tenant, and the tenant must sign an acknowledgment of its receipt. In addition to having a written policy for background checks, Virginia also has laws that provide certain protections for tenants. For example, landlords are not permitted to deny a tenant based solely on their race or national origin. Moreover, landlords must provide the tenant with an explanation if they decide not to rent to them due to information obtained from the background check. Overall, the purpose of requiring landlords to conduct background checks in Virginia is to protect the property and the other tenants from potential harm. By conducting a background check, landlords can more confidently make decisions on who they allow to be a tenant in their property.
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