Death, biohazard, and meth contamination disclosure rules for Virginia real estate and rentals — for sellers, buyers, and landlords.
Virginia law bars claims against owners or licensees for failing to disclose a homicide, felony, or suicide, or any act with no effect on the physical structure.
Statute: Va. Code § 55.1-713
Remedy standard: Residential Property Disclosure Act (buyer beware). Stigma-only claims are generally barred in Virginia, but sellers must answer truthfully if asked in writing — lies in response to a direct question are actionable fraud in every state.
Death disclosure to tenants: Not required. Biohazard/meth disclosure: Required as a habitability matter. Bedbug disclosure: Not required by state law. Federal lead paint disclosure applies to pre-1978 housing in all states.
Sellers with actual knowledge of prior meth manufacturing must disclose in writing unless the property has been remediated per VDH guidelines (1.5 µg/100 cm²). Landlords must disclose per § 55.1-1219.