Subcommittee advances bill to require one tenant payment plan for small arrears

House Bill 95, presented by Delegate Bennett Parker, would require landlords to offer tenants who owe no more than one month of rent the opportunity to enter a single repayment plan before an eviction judgment is sought. The default structure described in the bill provides for equal monthly installments over the lesser of six months or the remaining lease term, and tenants may prepay the balance at any time without penalty.

Sponsor testimony emphasized that many eviction judgments arise from relatively small balances and that such judgments remain on a tenant’s record indefinitely, harming future housing prospects. Legal Aid Justice Center (Larissa Zehr) and other legal and faith‑based groups told the committee the bill would reduce eviction filings, alleviate pressure on courts and allow tenants to catch up on modest arrears.

Industry representatives, including the Northern Virginia Apartment Association, said they generally support voluntary payment plans and asked for flexibility to notify tenants and tailor plans to individual property needs rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all statutory structure.

The subcommittee moved to report HB95; the clerk recorded a roll call and the bill was reported by a vote of 7 to 3.