Virginia Standard Residential Lease Agreement Template

Maximum Amount: 2 months’ rent (§ 55.1-1226(A)).

• Receipt Required? No, Virginia law does not require landlords to issue a formal receipt upon collecting a security deposit.

Return Period: The landlord must return the security deposit, minus any lawful deductions, within 45 days after the termination of the tenancy or the tenant vacating the premises, whichever occurs later (§ 55.1-1226(A)).

• Itemized List Required? Yes. If withholding funds for unpaid rent or damages, the landlord must deliver an itemized written statement detailing the deductions within the 45-day return window (§ 55.1-1226(A)).

Defective Drywall Disclosure (if applicable): The landlord must disclose in writing the presence of any known unremediated defective drywall prior to lease execution (§ 55.1-1218).

Fee Disclosure Statement: The landlord must include an itemized list of the rent amount, security deposit, and any additional one-time charges on the first page of the written rental agreement under the following statement: “No additional security deposits or rent shall be charged unless they are listed below or incorporated into this agreement by way of a separate addendum after execution of this rental agreement.” (§ 55.1-1204.1)

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: For residential structures constructed before January 1, 1978, landlords must distribute the federal EPA Lead Hazard Pamphlet (PDF) and disclose any known lead-based paint hazards before lease execution (40 CFR § 745.113).

Methamphetamine Contamination Disclosure (if applicable): If the landlord has actual knowledge that the dwelling unit has been used to manufacture methamphetamine and has not been cleaned up according to state guidelines, they must disclose this in writing to any prospective tenants before executing a lease (§ 55.1-1219).

Military Air Installation Zone (if applicable): If the property is located in an officially-designated military air installation noise zone or accident potential zone, the landlord must provide the tenants with a written disclosure before executing the lease (§ 55.1-1217).

Move-In Inspection: Within five days of occupancy, the landlord must provide the tenant with a move-in inspection report detailing the property condition and disclosing any visible evidence of mold (§ 55.1-1214(A), § 55.1-1215). Alternately, the landlord may adopt a written policy allowing the tenant to prepare and submit the move-in inspection, or both parties to conduct the inspection and prepare the report together (§ 55.1-1214(B)).

Name and Address of Authorized Entities: At or before the start of tenancy, the landlord must disclose in writing the name and addresses of the property manager, and the owner of the premises or any person authorized to act on their behalf (§ 55.1-1216).

Shared Utility Billing System Disclosure (if applicable): If the landlord must explicitly disclose in the rental agreement the exact terms, billing method, and fee structure of any submetering, energy allocation equipment, or ratio utility billing system (§ 55.1-1212).

Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities: The landlord must provide their tenant with the official state Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and both parties must sign the acknowledgment form found on the last page (§ 55.1-1204(B)).