Except as provided in this chapter, if there is a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or a noncompliance with any provision of this chapter, materially affecting health and safety, the tenant may serve a written notice on the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and stating that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice if such breach is not remedied in 21 days.
If the landlord commits a breach that is not remediable, the tenant may serve a written notice on the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and stating that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice.
If the landlord has been served with a prior written notice that required the landlord to remedy a breach, and the landlord remedied such breach, where the landlord intentionally commits a subsequent breach of a like nature as the prior breach, the tenant may serve a written notice on the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the subsequent breach, make reference to the prior breach of a like nature, and state that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice.
If the breach is remediable by repairs and the landlord adequately remedies the breach prior to the date specified in the notice, the rental agreement will not terminate. The tenant may not terminate for a condition caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, an authorized occupant, or a guest or invitee of the tenant. In addition, the tenant may recover damages and obtain injunctive relief for noncompliance by the landlord with the provisions of the rental agreement or of this chapter. The tenant shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees unless the landlord proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the landlord's actions were reasonable under the circumstances. If the rental agreement is terminated due to the landlord's noncompliance, the landlord shall return the security deposit in accordance with § 55.1-1226.
1974, c. 680, § 55-248.21; 1982, c. 260; 1987, c. 387; 2000, c. 760; 2003, c. 363; 2019, c. 712.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 55.1 - Property and Conveyances
Chapter 12 - Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
§ 55.1-1201. Applicability of chapter; local authority
§ 55.1-1203. Application; deposit, fee, and additional information
§ 55.1-1205. Prepaid rent; maintenance of escrow account
§ 55.1-1206. Landlord may obtain certain insurance for tenant
§ 55.1-1207. Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement
§ 55.1-1208. Prohibited provisions in rental agreements
§ 55.1-1208.1. Rental agreements; child care
§ 55.1-1209. Confidentiality of tenant records
§ 55.1-1210. Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access
§ 55.1-1213. Transfer of deposits upon purchase
§ 55.1-1214. Inspection of dwelling unit; report
§ 55.1-1215. Disclosure of mold in dwelling units
§ 55.1-1216. Disclosure of sale of premises
§ 55.1-1218. Required disclosures for properties with defective drywall; remedy for nondisclosure
§ 55.1-1220. Landlord to maintain fit premises
§ 55.1-1221. Landlord to provide locks and peepholes
§ 55.1-1222. Access of tenant to cable, satellite, and other television facilities
§ 55.1-1223. Notice to tenants for insecticide or pesticide use
§ 55.1-1224. Limitation of liability
§ 55.1-1225. Tenancy at will; effect of notice of change of terms or provisions of tenancy
§ 55.1-1226. Security deposits
§ 55.1-1227. Tenant to maintain dwelling unit
§ 55.1-1228. Rules and regulations
§ 55.1-1230. Access following entry of certain court orders
§ 55.1-1231. Relocation of tenant where mold remediation needs to be performed in the dwelling unit
§ 55.1-1232. Use and occupancy by tenant
§ 55.1-1233. Tenant to surrender possession of dwelling unit
§ 55.1-1234. Noncompliance by landlord
§ 55.1-1235. Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel
§ 55.1-1237. Notice to tenant in event of foreclosure
§ 55.1-1238. Failure to deliver possession
§ 55.1-1239. Wrongful failure to supply an essential service
§ 55.1-1240. Fire or casualty damage
§ 55.1-1241. Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent
§ 55.1-1242. Rent escrow required for continuance of tenant's case
§ 55.1-1244. Tenant's assertion; rent escrow
§ 55.1-1244.1. Tenant's remedy by repair
§ 55.1-1246. Barring guest or invitee of a tenant
§ 55.1-1247. Sheriffs authorized to serve certain notices; fee for service
§ 55.1-1248. Remedy by repair, etc.; emergencies
§ 55.1-1249. Remedies for absence, nonuse, and abandonment
§ 55.1-1250. Landlord's acceptance of rent with reservation; tenant's right of redemption
§ 55.1-1251. Remedy after termination
§ 55.1-1252. Recovery of possession limited
§ 55.1-1253. Periodic tenancy; holdover remedies
§ 55.1-1254. Disposal of property abandoned by tenants
§ 55.1-1256. Disposal of property of deceased tenants
§ 55.1-1257. Who may recover rent or possession
§ 55.1-1258. Retaliatory conduct prohibited
§ 55.1-1259. Actions to enforce chapter
§ 55.1-1261. (Expires July 1, 2024) Eviction Diversion Pilot Program; administration