Virginia Lease Agreements & Landlord-Tenant Law

Virginia offers a thriving job market, four complete seasons, and a flourishing economy, which are all reasons why it is a great place to move or invest in rental property. As a landlord, Virginia is the perfect location to own a rental because of the transient population due to the capital being right down the road.

Laws that impact the rental market, landlords, and tenants are constantly being decided in states. Make sure you know what’s on your ballot – find Virginia voting information.

Virginia Renters’ Rights and Landlord Responsibilities

• Have 30 days to return security deposit
• No notice required before raising rent
• A 24-hour notice required before entering the property
• Required to make repairs within a reasonable time frame

When it comes to Virginia rental laws, there are a few specifics landlords need to know:

1. Security Deposit – Virginia limits the amount a landlord may charge for the security deposit to no more than two months’ rent. Landlords must return the deposit within 30 days of the tenant moving out.
2. Raising Rent – Landlords in Virginia may increase the rent to any amount for any reason with no notice.
3. Notice of Entry – Virginia requires a 24-hour notice from the landlord before entering.
4. Repairs – It is the landlord’s responsibility to keep the rental in safe and healthy living conditions. Landlords must make repairs within a reasonable time frame after being notified by the tenant. However, tenants may not take alternate action if the landlord fails to make repairs.

Virginia Landlords’ Rights and Tenant Responsibilities

• Tenants have five days to pay rent after they receive a notice
• Must give a three-month notice before terminating a lease
• Tenants must keep the unit in safe and habitable condition
• A tenant has 10 days to claim abandoned property

1. Overdue Rent – If a tenant fails to pay rent on time, the landlord must give them a five-day notice to pay or quit. If the tenant fails to pay, the landlord may file for eviction.
2. Terminating a Lease – If a tenant needs to terminate a month-to-month lease, they must give the landlord a three-month notice.
3. Tenant Responsibilities – Tenants are required to keep the property clean and not disturb neighbors.
4. Abandoned Property – If a tenant moves out and leaves personal property, the landlord must store the property for 10 days. After this time period, if the ex-tenant has not claimed it, the landlord may sell it or throw it away.
5. Prepaid Rent – Any prepaid rent (not including security deposit) must be kept in an escrow account in a FDIC bank authorized to do business in Virginia. You must deposit it by the end of the 5th business day after you receive it, and it should remain in the account until the prepaid rent is due.

Criminal Background Check

• HUD (Federal) laws do not classify criminal backgrounds as a protected class, but making a decision to rent based off a criminal background alone could lead to a discrimination charge as it impacts certain protected groups of people disproportionately.
  • However, if the criminal background check revealed a crime for the manufacture and distribution of drugs, homicide and/or stalking, denying the application is allowed.
• Landlords should have a consistent and equal policy or procedure in place to follow regarding criminal background checks so as not to discriminate against one class of people over another.
• HUD states that a landlord cannot ask about arrest records, only convictions, as innocent people are commonly arrested though the situation may not have resulted in a conviction.
• Some municipalities may have written their own laws expanding onto what you can and cannot ask regarding criminal backgrounds during the tenant screening process.

Application Fees

Virginia application fees are capped at $50.

If the applicant fails to rent the unit and the application fee exceeds $35, then landlord must refund the amount in excess of the actual expenses incurred within 20 days of rejection.

Security Deposits

You must return your tenant’s security deposit with 45 days of move out. Additionally, landlords must present a copy of the Virginia Landlord-Tenant Handbook to their tenants and have each party sign it.

Lease Disclosures

The following disclosures are required to be in Virginia lease agreements:

• Details regarding any shared utilities for the property
• Military Air Disclosure along with information on the noise zone or accident potential zone (both of which can be found on your locality’s official zoning map)
• Prior methamphetamine manufacturing on premises and clean-up efforts
• Knowledge of defective drywall* on the premises
• Knowledge of visible mold in interior of premises

Build a Virginia lease agreement with all of the required disclosures in less than 15 minutes.

*Drywall installed during 2001-2008 and exhibits strontium, sulfur, or hydrogen sulfur exceeding acceptable levels under the Consumer Products Safety Commission

Virginia Lease Agreement Sample

There are three sections to a residential lease agreement. The first section outlines the custom details of the contract, such as who’s involved and for what address. Here’s an example Virginia lease agreement listing details found in Section 1:

Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law FAQ

Below are answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to landlord-tenant laws in Virginia:

Due Diligence and Virginia Rental Laws

TurboTenant has utilized many municipal sources, along with official state statutes, in order to compile this information to the best of our ability. However, local laws are always in flux, and landlords and tenants alike should be sure to do their due diligence and consult legal help when it’s needed. We hope the following list can serve as a valuable resource and allow you to succeed as a landlord or tenant in Virginia. Be sure to take proper precautions when it comes to finding the top candidates for your unit by utilizing our online rental application and tenant screening services.

Disclaimer: TurboTenant, Inc does not provide legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. All users are advised to check all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and consult legal counsel should questions arise.

Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law Resources

• Chapter 13. Landlord and Tenant – Code of Virginia
• Chapter 13.2. Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act – Code of Virginia
• Chapter 13.3. Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act – Code of Virginia
• Virginia Landlord-Tenant Handbook

Virginia Fair Housing Resources

• Virginia Fair Housing Office – State of Virginia
• Chapter 5.1. Virginia Fair Housing Law – Code of Virginia
• Local Tenant Rights, Laws and Protections: Virginia – HUD
• HUD in Virginia

Other State Resources

• Residential Landlord-Tenant Issues
• § 55-248.15:1. Security deposits – Code of Virginia

Virginia Associations

• Virginia Association of REALTORS®
• The Virginia Apartment Management Association

Virginia City-Specific Housing Resources

Virginia Beach

• Fair Housing | City of Virginia Beach
• Hampton Roads REALTORS®

Norfolk

• Landlord and Tenant Resources – City of Norfolk
• Fair Housing | City of Norfolk, Virginia – Official Website
• Hampton Roads REALTORS®

Chesapeake

• Landlord/Tenant Relations – City of Chesapeake
• Fair Housing – City of Chesapeake
• Hampton Roads REALTORS®

Richmond

• Richmond Association of REALTORS®

Federal Fair Housing Resources

• Federal Fair Housing Act
• United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Wikipedia)