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Bill > HB1361
VA HB1361
VA HB1361Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; civil action for unlawful detainer, termination notice.
summary
Introduced
01/20/2026
01/20/2026
In Committee
03/04/2026
03/04/2026
Crossed Over
03/11/2026
03/11/2026
Passed
04/13/2026
04/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/13/2026
04/13/2026
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill 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.
AI Summary
This bill, effective July 1, 2027, amends the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to require landlords to provide tenants with a proper termination notice before filing an unlawful detainer, which is a civil action to evict a tenant. This termination notice must now include a detailed statement of charges and payments over the tenancy or the past 12 months, whichever is shorter, along with any late fees, attorney fees, costs, and other contracted charges. If energy or utility submetering equipment is used, the notice must also detail debits and credits for these bills. Furthermore, landlords must maintain records of how monthly energy and utility billing fees are calculated and a payment history for each tenant, which must be made available to tenants upon request, and the bill removes any fees previously associated with tenants requesting these records.
Committee Categories
Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0783) (on 04/13/2026)
Bill Topics
Community Development and Housing Issues
- ‐ General Housing and Community Development
Law, Crime, and Family Issues
- ‐ Civil Law and Procedure
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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