VirginiaHB13612026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; civil action for unlawful detainer, termination notice.

Sponsored By: Michelle Lopes Maldonado (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; civil action for unlawful detainer; termination notice; energy submetering equipment. Provides that no landlord shall file or maintain an action for unlawful detainer against a residential tenant for any alleged lease violation until the landlord has provided the tenant with a proper and effective termination notice and that no notice of termination of tenancy for nonpayment of rent pursuant to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act shall be effective unless such notice contains a written statement of charges and payments over the course of the tenancy or the past 12 months, whichever is shorter, and any late charges, attorney fees, costs, and other charges or damages as contracted for in the rental agreement that are due and owing. The bill requires such notice to also include debits and credits incurred by the tenant for energy and utility bills and any additional charges permitted as applicable. The bill also requires the owner of any residential building to maintain adequate records indicating how monthly energy and utility billing fees are calculated and including a history of billing fee payments for each tenant over the duration of the tenancy or the past 12 months, whichever is shorter. Such records shall be made available to the tenant upon request. Finally, the bill removes a provision allowing for the collection of fees when a tenant requests such records. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 294.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Clearer rental notices and delivery rules

Beginning July 1, 2027, landlords and tenants may use electronic notices only if the lease allows, and any tenant can choose paper instead; the sender must keep proof of electronic delivery. Notices to landlords go to their business office or stated address; notices to tenants go to the last known residence. Public housing termination notices must list the local legal aid program on the first page, and private‑landlord notices to voucher tenants must list the statewide legal aid phone and website, or they are not effective. Any nonpayment termination notice must itemize charges and payments for the tenancy or last 12 months, including late fees, attorney fees, costs, other charges, and any utility debits and credits if used. A landlord may, by written agreement, have a manager or attorney send notices. A notice to an organization counts when it reaches the person handling the matter, or would have with reasonable care.

After foreclosure, former owners owe rent

Beginning July 1, 2027, when a single‑family home is sold at foreclosure and the former owner stays, that person becomes a tenant at sufferance. The buyer can end the tenancy with a three‑day written notice and then file for unlawful detainer. The former owner owes fair market rent from the foreclosure date until move‑out and may also owe damages, attorney fees, and court costs.

Faster eviction hearings and rent claims

Beginning July 1, 2027, courts set the first eviction hearing within 21 days (no later than 30). Summonses are issued on a sworn statement, can be served by standard methods, and must be served at least 10 days before the hearing; a general district judge hears the case. For single-family homes with no rental agreement and an occupant there without permission, courts hold an emergency hearing within 14 days if the owner gave 72 hours’ written notice. A landlord cannot get possession or judgment unless a proper termination notice is filed into evidence, and later duplicate money suits must be dismissed. Landlords may list and amend money owed on the summons (with written notice and a chance to object if not listed originally); courts may include the full month’s rent if the lease says rent is due on the first in advance, otherwise rent is prorated, and any rent collected on re-renting must credit the judgment. Courts accept true copies of documents; if the tenant does not appear, the landlord may state amounts due by affidavit but must report any payments. Every summons includes a notice that an employer cannot punish you for going to court if you gave reasonable notice.

Utility billing rules and $5 late fees

Beginning July 1, 2027, a landlord may use submetering, allocation, or ratio utility billing only if the lease clearly says so and equipment meets state standards. Bills must match the utility’s billing period unless the lease sets another period, and extra service fees apply only if agreed in the lease. Any late charge for these utility bills is capped at $5 and cannot apply until at least 15 days after the bill is mailed or delivered; those late charges count as rent. Tenants get protections: one free test of allocation equipment every 24 months, a written test report within 10 working days, and the right to inspect billing records and calculations with only reasonable copy costs. Owners may include utilities in rent, and they may allocate local government fees among tenants by a clear, lease‑stated formula; those allocations are treated as rent. Tenants and owners keep the right to sue for breaches of these rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michelle Lopes Maldonado

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 256 • No: 66

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Yes: 71 • No: 28

Senate vote 3/10/2026

General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate with amendment

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment

Yes: 14 • No: 1

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 79 • No: 18

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/4/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0783)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 783 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1361)

    4/1/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1361ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  12. General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/10/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/10/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day

    3/9/2026Senate
  16. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    3/6/2026Senate
  19. Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (14-Y 1-N)

    3/4/2026Senate
  20. Senate committee offered

    3/3/2026Senate
  21. Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

    2/25/2026Senate
  22. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

    2/18/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  24. Read third time and passed House (79-Y 18-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  25. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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