Virginia Law

Article 6. Retaliatory Action.

A. Except as provided in this section or as otherwise provided by law, a landlord shall not retaliate against a tenant by taking any action set forth in subsection B after such landlord has actual knowledge that the tenant has (i) made a complaint to a governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the premises that materially affects the tenant's health or safety; (ii) made a complaint to any member of a news or media outlet regarding noncompliance with the rental agreement or the provisions of this chapter; (iii) made a written complaint to or filed an action against the landlord for a violation of the rental agreement, any provision of this chapter, the Virginia Fair Housing Law (§ 36-96.1 et seq.), or the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.); (iv) organized, become a member of, or participated in lawful activities pertaining to a tenants' organization; or (v) testified in a court or administrative proceeding against the landlord.

B. If a landlord has knowledge that a tenant has taken any action set forth in subsection A, the landlord shall be prohibited from taking any retaliatory action against the tenant, including (i) increasing the tenant's rental amount or amount of fees; (ii) selectively decreasing services, selectively enforcing a rule or imposing a different rule on the tenant, or otherwise materially altering the terms of the rental agreement without the tenant's consent; (iii) threatening, harassing, or coercing the tenant; (iv) bringing an action or threatening to bring an action for possession against the tenant; (v) terminating the tenant's rental agreement pursuant to § 55.1-1253; or (vi) refusing to renew a tenancy where the tenant is receiving tenant-based rental assistance through the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o)) or any other federal, state, or local program. However, the provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prevent the landlord from increasing rent to that which is charged for similar market rentals.

C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B, a landlord shall not be liable for retaliation under this section and may terminate the rental agreement pursuant to § 55.1-1253 or 55.1-1410 and bring an action for possession if:

1. A violation of the applicable building or housing code was caused primarily by lack of reasonable care by the tenant, an authorized occupant, or a guest or invitee of the tenant;

2. The tenant is in default in rent at the time an unlawful detainer action for possession is filed;

3. Compliance with the applicable building or housing code requires alteration, remodeling, or demolition that would effectively deprive the tenant of use of the dwelling unit;

4. The tenant is in default of a provision of the rental agreement materially affecting the health and safety of himself or others;

5. Notice to terminate pursuant to § 55.1-1253 or 55.1-1410 was given to the tenant before the tenant engaged in an act set forth in subsection A;

6. The landlord increases rent or fees pursuant to the terms of the rental agreement;

7. The landlord decreases services for, or imposes a rule change that applies equally to, all tenants;

8. Notice to terminate for material noncompliance with the rental agreement was given to the tenant before the tenant engaged in an act set forth in subsection A; or

9. The landlord fails to renew a tenancy for good cause where the tenant is receiving rent-based rental assistance through the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (42 U.S.C. § 1437f(o)), or any other federal, state, or local program.

The maintenance of the action provided in this section does not release the landlord from liability under § 55.1-1226.

D. The landlord may also terminate the rental agreement pursuant to § 55.1-1253 or 55.1-1410 for any other reason not prohibited by law unless the court finds that the reason for the termination was retaliation. If the landlord acts in violation of this section, the tenant is entitled to the applicable remedies provided for in this chapter, including recovery of actual damages, and may assert such retaliation as a defense in any action against him for possession.

1974, c. 680, § 55-248.39; 1983, c. 396; 1985, c. 268; 2000, c. 760; 2015, c. 408; 2019, c. 712; 2026, c. 1111.

A. Except as provided in this section or as otherwise provided by law, a landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession or by causing a termination of the rental agreement pursuant to § 55.1-1253 or 55.1-1410 after he has knowledge that (i) the tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the premises materially affecting health or safety, (ii) the tenant has made a complaint to or filed an action against the landlord for a violation of any provision of this chapter, (iii) the tenant has organized or become a member of a tenant's organization, or (iv) the tenant has testified in a court proceeding against the landlord. However, the provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prevent the landlord from increasing rent to that which is charged for similar market rentals nor decreasing services that apply equally to all tenants.

B. If the landlord acts in violation of this section, the tenant is entitled to the applicable remedies provided for in this chapter, including recovery of actual damages, and may assert such retaliation as a defense in any action against him for possession. The burden of proving retaliatory intent shall be on the tenant.

C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B, a landlord may terminate the rental agreement pursuant to § 55.1-1253 or 55.1-1410 and bring an action for possession if:

1. Violation of the applicable building or housing code was caused primarily by lack of reasonable care by the tenant, an authorized occupant, or a guest or invitee of the tenant;

2. The tenant is in default in rent;

3. Compliance with the applicable building or housing code requires alteration, remodeling, or demolition that would effectively deprive the tenant of use of the dwelling unit; or

4. The tenant is in default of a provision of the rental agreement materially affecting the health and safety of himself or others. The maintenance of the action provided in this section does not release the landlord from liability under § 55.1-1226.

D. The landlord may also terminate the rental agreement pursuant to § 55.1-1253 or 55.1-1410 for any other reason not prohibited by law unless the court finds that the reason for the termination was retaliation.

1974, c. 680, § 55-248.39; 1983, c. 396; 1985, c. 268; 2000, c. 760; 2015, c. 408; 2019, c. 712.

A. In addition to any other remedies in this chapter, any person adversely affected by an act or omission prohibited under this chapter may institute an action for injunction and damages against the person responsible for such act or omission in the circuit court in the county or city in which such act or omission occurred. If the court finds that the defendant was responsible for such act or omission, it shall enjoin the defendant from continuance of such practice and, in its discretion, award the plaintiff damages as provided in this section.

B. If a condition exists in a dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not remedied within a reasonable time frame, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of a tenant or occupant of the premises, including infestation of rodents or a lack of heat, hot or cold running water, electricity, or adequate sewage disposal facilities, a locality may institute an action on behalf of any tenant or occupant of the premises who is injured by such material noncompliance for injunction and damages in the circuit court in the county or city in which the dwelling unit is located to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the premises where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the premises, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time frame after receiving such notice. If the court finds that the landlord failed to maintain the dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, it shall enjoin the landlord from continuance of such practice and, in its discretion, award damages to any tenant or occupant of the premises on behalf of whom the action was brought.

1974, c. 680, § 55-248.40; 2013, c. 110; 2019, c. 712; 2026, cc. 542, 543.