Virginia Tenant Rights: What You Can and Can't Do as a Renter

When you rent a home in Virginia tenant rights, the legal protections that cover renters in the state of Virginia, including deposit rules, eviction procedures, and repair responsibilities. These rights are enforced under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Richmond, Norfolk, or a small town—these rules apply statewide. Your landlord can’t just kick you out, raise your rent overnight, or hold your deposit forever. That’s not how it works.

One of the most common issues renters face is the security deposit, a sum of money paid upfront by a tenant to cover potential damages or unpaid rent, which Virginia law limits to two months’ rent and requires be returned within 45 days after move-out. If your landlord doesn’t return it on time, you can sue for double the amount. That’s not a threat—it’s the law. And if they try to charge you for normal wear and tear—like faded paint or worn carpet—that’s illegal too. You have the right to a move-in checklist and a written itemized list of deductions if they keep any part of your deposit.

What if your landlord sells the property? Your lease stays in effect. You don’t have to leave just because the house changed hands. And if repairs are needed—like a broken heater in winter or a leaking roof—the landlord must fix them within a reasonable time. You can’t be forced to live in unsafe conditions. If they ignore your requests, you can legally withhold rent or repair it yourself and deduct the cost, but only if you follow the right steps. Knowing how to do this correctly can save you thousands.

Eviction is scary, but it’s not automatic. Your landlord can’t change locks, shut off utilities, or throw your stuff out. They must go to court and get a judge’s order. Even if you’re late on rent, you have 5 days to pay before they can file for eviction. And if you’re on a month-to-month lease, they still need 30 days’ notice to ask you to leave—no exceptions.

There’s a lot more: rent increase rules, pet policies, subletting, and what happens if you break your lease. All of it is covered in the posts below. You’ll find real examples from Virginia renters—what went wrong, how they fixed it, and what the law actually says. No legal jargon. No fluff. Just what you need to know to stand your ground.