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Landlord Retaliation Laws in Virginia

Virginia bars a landlord from raising rent, cutting services or bringing or threatening eviction in retaliation for code complaints, complaints or suits under the landlord tenant act, tenant organizing or court testimony; there is no presumption period, and a broader version takes effect January 1, 2027.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Virginia at a glance

Retaliation banned by statute
Yes
Under the current version the tenant bears the burden of proving retaliatory intent.
Presumption period
No presumption period
Va. Code 55.1-1258 sets no presumption period.
Protected tenant actions
Code complaints, suits under the act, tenant groups, testimony
Also covers complaints under the act. From January 1, 2027 (2026 Acts c. 1111) it adds media and fair housing complaints and testimony in administrative proceedings.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Virginia

Does Virginia law prohibit landlord retaliation against tenants?

Yes. Retaliation banned by statute in Virginia: yes. Under the current version the tenant bears the burden of proving retaliatory intent.

How long after a tenant complaint is retaliation presumed in Virginia?

Presumption period in Virginia: No presumption period. Va. Code 55.1-1258 sets no presumption period.

Which tenant actions are protected from retaliation in Virginia?

Protected tenant actions in Virginia: Code complaints, suits under the act, tenant groups, testimony. Also covers complaints under the act. From January 1, 2027 (2026 Acts c. 1111) it adds media and fair housing complaints and testimony in administrative proceedings.

Where do the Virginia landlord retaliation laws come from?

The rules above come from Va. Code 55.1-1258. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A 2026 amendment (2026 Acts c. 1111), effective January 1, 2027, also bars fee increases, selective rule enforcement, harassment and some refusals to renew voucher tenancies.

What this means in practice

Keep a written record of every complaint, repair request and report to a government agency, with dates. A presumption period usually runs from the date of the protected action, so proof of that date can matter.

Retaliation protection does not usually excuse unpaid rent or lease violations. Statutes commonly allow a landlord to raise rent, end a tenancy or evict for a good-faith reason, such as nonpayment, damage to the unit or a rent increase applied to all tenants.

If a rent increase, service cut or eviction notice follows a complaint, read the statute for your state and any local ordinance. Cities and counties may add protections, and a local legal aid office or tenant union can explain how they apply.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.