Virginia SB 313: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods, prohibited fees.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100239D

SENATE BILL NO. 313

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1208 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; prohibited provisions; fees for maintenance and periodic payments.

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Patrons—Ebbin; Delegate: McClure

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Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 55.1-1208 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 55.1-1208. Prohibited provisions in rental agreements.

A. A rental agreement shall not contain provisions that the tenant:

1. Agrees to waive or forgo rights or remedies under this chapter;

2. Agrees to waive or forgo rights or remedies pertaining to the 120-day conversion or rehabilitation notice required in the Virginia Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.) or the Virginia Real Estate Cooperative Act (§ 55.1-2100 et seq.) or under § 55.1-1410;

3. Authorizes any person to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the rental agreement;

4. Agrees to pay the landlord's attorney fees except as provided in this chapter;

5. Agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord to the tenant arising under law or to indemnify the landlord for that liability or any associated costs;

6. Agrees as a condition of tenancy in public housing to a prohibition or restriction of any lawful possession of a firearm within individual dwelling units unless required by federal law or regulation;

7. Agrees to the payment of a security deposit, insurance premiums for damage insurance, and insurance premiums for renter's insurance prior to the commencement of the tenancy that exceed the amount of two months' periodic rent; or

8. Agrees to waive remedies or rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq., prior to the occurrence of a dispute between landlord and tenant. Execution of leases shall not be contingent upon the execution of a waiver of rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; however, upon the occurrence of any dispute, the landlord and tenant may execute a waiver of such rights and remedies as to that dispute in order to facilitate a resolution.

B. Any provision prohibited by subsection A that is included in a rental agreement is unenforceable. If a landlord brings an action to enforce any such provision, the tenant may recover actual damages sustained by him and reasonable attorney fees.

C. If the landlord is a public housing authority, the landlord shall not require No landlord shall require a tenant to pay any fee for the maintenance or repair of any dwelling unit unless the repair is necessitated by the tenant's action or omission violation of a requirement of this chapter.

D. No landlord shall require a tenant to pay a fee to submit periodic rent payments or other amounts due, regardless of the method of payment.