Comments Document

Chairman Leftwich and Members of the House General Laws Committee: The Appraisal Institute (AI) appreciates the opportunity to offer the following written comments in support of HB 1418, “Real Estate Appraisal Board; appraisal experience”. This bill would require the Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Board (VREAB) to accept successful completion of approved Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) programs to satisfy the experience requirements to become licensed or certified as a real estate appraiser. To date, thirty-six other states have approved acceptance of PAREA. PAREA is a technology-based alternative to the traditional “in-person” supervisor/trainee (apprentice) method of obtaining practical experience to become a licensed or certified real estate appraiser. PAREA provides another pathway for aspiring appraisers to fulfill their experience requirements. It is designed to offer practical experience in a virtual environment combining appraisal theory and methodology in real-world simulations. This experience can be provided through a wide range of computer-based learning and virtual reality technologies. PAREA programs will be available in Virginia starting later this year. The current “in-person” supervisor/trainee model of gaining appraisal experience is the highest barrier to entry into the appraisal profession. For a variety of reasons, aspiring appraisers have an extremely difficult time finding someone willing to supervise them for up to 12 months (for the residential licenses). Partially due to the supervisor/trainee requirement, the number of appraisers has declined significantly since the peak in 2008. Research has also shown that aspiring appraisers of color have a disproportionately more difficult time finding supervisors than do their colleagues. The inability of people of color to find supervisors has contributed to the profession being 98% white. Acceptance of successful completion of approved PAREA programs by the VREAB will help to grow and diversify the appraisal profession. The Appraisal Institute respectfully recommends the General Laws Committee to favorably report HB 1418 to the full House. Thank you for your consideration. Regards, Scott W. DiBiasio Manager, State & Industry Affairs (202) 298-5593 sdibiasio@appraisalinstitute.org

I totally support HB1418 and believe there ought to be an easier way to become an appraiser. My 27 year-old daughter wants to become an appraiser. While she was researching the job requirements, she came across many comments from young women who said the biggest obstacle for them becoming an appraiser was finding someone to supervise them. They said most appraisers are white men in their late 50's and, according to the women my daughter came across on YouTube videos, these men don't like taking on young women to train and supervise as appraisers. A lot of these men have ingrained biases against women, and especially young women, entering their field. However, there is a growing shortage of appraisers and they are going to be needed more than ever in the coming years as the housing market continues to evolve. As these men begin to retire, who is going to take their place? Women should be encouraged to enter the field, and the path to becoming an appraiser should evolve to accommodate these new entrants.

HB1490 - This bill will make it easier on the localities. HB1569 - Thank you for protecting them. This information should be hidden. HB1610 - Thank you for looking out for the kids. This will make it easier to get equipment.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police strongly supports HB 1569. which clarifies that the personnel records of public safety employees are protected from public disclosure the same as the personnel records of any other government employee. HB 1569 is declarative of existing law that has long protected the personnel records of public employees. This provision of law has long been in place to protect the families of government employees and to protect and preserve the truthful reputation of a public employee. There are ample disciplinary measures in place to address misconduct by a public employee that would become public knowledge in those instances. Please support HB 1569.

HB1490 - This bill will make it easier on the localities. HB1569 - Thank you for protecting them. This information should be hidden. HB1610 - Thank you for looking out for the kids. This will make it easier to get equipment.

HB1490 - This bill will make it easier on the localities. HB1569 - Thank you for protecting them. This information should be hidden. HB1610 - Thank you for looking out for the kids. This will make it easier to get equipment.

My name is Michelle Chan and I live in Alexandria. I've worked with many community members in Virginia, and they, along with everyone, deserve clean and safe living conditions. I am in favor of this bill because I have seen many people who in horrible conditions because landlords do not take responsibility for keeping their rental properties clean. These conditions range from mold to pests, such as insects and rodents running around. People cannot live in these conditions. It is unsafe and unhealthy. Because of these unsafe conditions, renters are with an unfair burden. I've seen people have to make sure all of their food remain in the fridge, just to make sure rodents don't get into it. Even when this food does not need to be refrigerated/ I've seen people who had to place their foods on high shelves that are inaccessible to rats, but also inaccessible to them. While my friend, jokingly call these rodents, Mickey and Minnie, it is far from a funny situation. Mold should not be a daily part of a persons' life. Especially since it can cause health problems to them and their families. I've seen residents bring this problem to their County Leaders who are unable to help them. This should not be the case. Landlords need to be held responsible. People already pay crazy rent rates, why do not have safe, clean, and generally livable condition.

Please support this bill it is vital to establish health communities. and eliminate slumlords

Greetings chair my name is Allan Charles Chipman Executive director of initiative of change USA. We spent much of last year organizing in the South side of Richmond with our Afro Latino coalition. One of the highest priorities highlighted in our summer of listening sessions were the unjust conditions that many of the residents were living under despite paying their rent faithfully. There is a grave injustice that some landlords in this Commonwealth and in our city that have been exploiting residents by refusing to fix the conditions that challenge their very Dignity Health and safety. It is important that we pass this bill so that the localities can help make justice and the rights given to tenants by the state to be more accessible and affordable to the varying classes and resources of tenants all across this Commonwealth. As a minister I reflect on John chapter 14 where Jesus tells the disciples not to be troubled because he goes to prepare a place for them. My faith shows that a landlord should be creating conditions that ease tenants struggles not multiply them. Landlords who are preparing a place for the residents of our Commonwealth should be applauded when they create conditions that ease the troubles but they should be held accountable when they create conditions that exacerbate the troubles of virginians please vote yes to house bill 1650.

I am in full support of this bill we must put in measures to address the overwhelming amount of health issues related to the unsafe living conditions conditions. This will give localities the tool they need to protect their residents from unsafe living conditions and improve the health and safety of their community.

There are a multitude of persons facing an overwhelming amount of health issues related to the unsafe conditions where they reside. In addressing their living situation, we can help Virginians reach healthier outcomes. By providing the opportunity to residents to fight back against slumlords, we are empowering them to advocate for themselves, their children, their families, their neighbors, and more. By supporting this bill, you are leading the way in the fight for a healthier Virginia. Thank you for your time.

It is imperative that localities be given the responsibility of enforcing our state housing laws. Members of my community and I have had to endure subpar housing conditions while landlords have refused to make adequate repairs and maintain their properties. They have raised the price of rent without ensuring that their properties are in optimal condition. All landlords should have to perform at least one annual inspection of their homes and multiunit properties and should be held accountable and unable to increase rent if they have not passed the inspection. I have personally endured bullying by my landlord after I reported him when he refused to repair critical items including the inoperable water faucet and back door which was unsafe. No tenant should have to endure this or similar treatment while paying substantial amounts of their income for rent. We must ensure better conditions, higher standards and greater protection for tenants!

Dear Delegates, I urge you pass HB 1650. My 4-year experience as an advocate working with Tenants at the Serrano apartments in Arlington reflects an urgent need for this tool to help with enforcement. Serious health and safety issues at the Serrano began to be addressed only after years of work to build public pressure on management. Meanwhile, tenants suffered significantly impaired living conditions, respiratory ailments, unexplained rashes, and the trauma of living with, for example, uncontrolled mice infestations. Attaining fit and habitable homes should not be this extraordinarily difficult. We neighbors in better circumstances would never countenance this in our own lives. By granting localities the authority to enforce the health and safety provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA), HB1650 will help local officials make their communities healthier, protect the rights of tenants, promote conciliation between tenants and landlords through state intervention, and increase landlord compliance with VRLTA provisions. Please move this bill forward. Thank you.

As a Virginia voter and taxpayer for many years, I support the granting of localities the authority to enforce the health and safety provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA); HB1650 will help local officials in advancing the health of their communities, in protecting the rights of tenants, promoting conciliation between tenants and landlords through state intervention, and increasing landlord compliance with VRLTA provisions.

Support HB1650’s Solution: HB1650 empowers cities, counties, and towns to file suit against slumlords to force compliance with the health and safety standards of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act. This will give localities the tool they need to protect their residents from unsafe living conditions and improve the health and safety of their community. Rather than resorting to condemning structures that violate the State Building Maintenance Code and thus displacing tenants, localities can seek a resolution that protects the interests of its residents, such as having a judge order that landlords make repairs and abate all or part of their rent. By granting localities the authority to enforce the health and safety provisions of the VRLTA, HB1650 will help local officials make their communities healthier, protect the rights of tenants, promote conciliation between tenants and landlords through state intervention, and increase landlord compliance with VRLTA provisions.

If we maintain that all people are created equal, we need to do what we can - ensure that systems and laws, procedures, and processes - work towards that equality. This bill will ensure that local officials have the legislative and procedural structures to treat citizens equally and that landlords do not get the opportunity to treat people unequally. Any inequality towards one of us is an inequality in the community and impacts all of us negatively. Please vote to pass HB1650 to protect Virginians and the local officials working to keep them safe, healthy, and off the streets.

Please support HB1650, which will help local officials make their communities healthier, protect the rights of tenants, and increase landlord compliance with VRLTA provisions. One's home is a place where individuals should feel safe and comfortable and a social determinant of health. Let's make Virginia a happier and healthier place by supporting this bill!

I am in favor of this bill that allows localities to enforce the provisions of existing law (VRLTA). Seems like a no-brainer. If localities cannot enforce this law, then it falls to low-income tenants who do not have the means to hold landlords accountable. If landlords say this is not needed, then no problem - localities would not ever need to use this power.

This bill would give an avenue for tenants forced to reside in unlivable conditions to get slumlords to rectify their wrongdoings. Please support HB1650 on behalf of your constituents.

HB1650 empowers cities, counties, and towns to file suit against slumlords to force compliance with the health and safety standards of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act. This will give localities the tool they need to protect their residents from unsafe living conditions and improve the health and safety of their community. Rather than resorting to condemning structures that violate the State Building Maintenance Code and thus displacing tenants, localities can seek a resolution that protects the interests of its residents, such as having a judge order that landlords make repairs and abate all or part of their rent. By granting localities the authority to enforce the health and safety provisions of the VRLTA, HB1650 will help local officials make their communities healthier, protect the rights of tenants, promote conciliation between tenants and landlords through state intervention, and increase landlord compliance with VRLTA provisions.

By granting localities the authority to enforce the health and safety provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA), HB1650 will help local officials make their communities healthier, protect the rights of tenants, promote conciliation between tenants and landlords through state intervention, and increase landlord compliance with VRLTA provisions. It seems obvious that local jurisdictions should be able to enforce policies that support keeping tenants in their homes and ensuring that property owners and managers aren't able to exploit vulnerable tenants. Landlords have the responsibility of upholding state and local health and safety policy, and if they don't, they should face consequences levied by their locality.

I am living in very unhealthy/uninhabitable conditions and being retaliated against forby landlord for complaining to city building inspections. My lease will not be renewed April 1st and I have nowhere else to go. Please help!!!!!!!!!

We need local government to enforce the law against out of state landlords.

I am living in very unhealthy/uninhabitable conditions and being retaliated against forby landlord for complaining to city building inspections. My lease will not be renewed April 1st and I have nowhere else to go. Please help!!!!!!!!!

Please move to report to stop the faking of assistance animals. It only hurts the disabled.

HB1491 - Great definition and one that is workable in today's business world. HB1810 - All employees should have a right to speak what they want. HB2256 - Thank you for making sure they have funds.

Comments Document

VSAP opposes the current language of HB 1837 and recommends new language. Nominating committees should not be banned in the Commonwealth. Please see the attached letter.

HB1491 - Great definition and one that is workable in today's business world. HB1810 - All employees should have a right to speak what they want. HB2256 - Thank you for making sure they have funds.