The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) has undergone major updates that every landlord and property manager should know about. With the passage of Senate Bill 405 (SB 405) and House Bill 1272 (HB 1272), Virginia has introduced new lease transparency and documentation requirements that took effect on July 1, 2024. These laws are designed to protect tenants from hidden fees while ensuring landlords maintain clear, compliant rental agreements.
At Chambers Theory, we help property owners across Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland stay informed and fully compliant with evolving property management laws. Understanding how these new Virginia lease requirements affect your rental agreements is key to avoiding penalties, improving tenant trust, and protecting your investment.
Key Takeaways
Fee disclosure required: SB 405 mandates that all rent-related fees must be displayed on the first page of a written rental agreement in bold, 14-point font.
Mandatory statement: The lease must include the phrase “No fee shall be collected unless it is listed below.”
Copy of lease required: HB 1272 requires landlords to provide tenants with a signed copy of the lease within 10 business days of the effective date.
No-cost copies: Tenants can request additional hard or electronic copies at no charge.
Compliance matters: Landlords who fail to meet these requirements risk legal disputes and forfeiture of certain fees.
SB 405: Clear Disclosure of All Rental Fees
Under Senate Bill 405, landlords must now list every charge that tenants are expected to pay beyond regular rent. These include late fees, application fees, pet fees, parking fees, and administrative costs.
Specifically, the law requires that:
A description of all rent and fees appear on the first page of the rental agreement.
The list must be printed in bold, 14-point font.
The lease must include the sentence: “No fee shall be collected unless it is listed below.”
This update targets the issue of hidden or “junk” fees, ensuring tenants know exactly what they’ll be charged before signing the lease. For landlords, it means every potential fee, even optional or conditional ones, must be explicitly written in the agreement. If it’s not listed, you cannot legally collect it later.
To stay compliant, review all your standard lease templates and make sure every charge is identified clearly on the first page.
HB 1272: Providing Tenants with Lease Copies
House Bill 1272 complements SB 405 by reinforcing tenant rights to transparency and documentation. The law requires that landlords:
Provide a signed copy of the rental agreement to the tenant within 10 business days of the lease’s effective date.
Supply additional copies, whether hard or electronic, free of charge if requested.
This regulation prevents confusion over lease terms and protects both parties in the event of disputes. From a property management perspective, it’s wise to implement a document tracking system that records when leases are signed, distributed, and reissued.
Failure to deliver the lease in a timely manner could expose landlords to compliance issues or make enforcement of certain terms more difficult.
How These Laws Impact Property Managers in Northern Virginia
For landlords and property managers in Northern Virginia, these changes to the VRLTA mean that your administrative processes, lease templates, and communication workflows all need to be updated.
Here’s how to adapt effectively:
Audit your lease templates: Ensure that all fees, including those for pets, late payments, and processing, are listed in compliance with SB 405.
Train your team: Leasing agents and administrative staff should understand the new disclosure format and distribution timeline.
Digitize your process: Use property management software to timestamp when leases are shared and signed to meet the 10-day rule.
Standardize compliance: Apply these standards consistently across your portfolio to avoid oversight or tenant complaints.
Even if you operate across DC and Maryland, where similar transparency trends are emerging, it’s critical to maintain state-specific compliance for Virginia properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do these laws apply to both new and renewed leases?
Yes. Both SB 405 and HB 1272 apply to any written rental agreement executed after July 1, 2024, including renewals and extensions.
2. Can landlords email a copy of the lease to tenants?
Yes. Electronic delivery of the lease meets the requirement under HB 1272, as long as the tenant receives the document and can easily access it.
3. What happens if a landlord forgets to list a fee on the first page?
If a fee is missing, the landlord cannot collect it, even if it’s mentioned elsewhere in the lease. This rule is intended to eliminate hidden charges and ensure transparency.
Transparency Strengthens Trust
The 2024 Virginia lease reforms under SB 405 and HB 1272 emphasize openness, accountability, and fairness in rental relationships. By proactively updating your rental agreements, documentation systems, and communication processes, you’ll not only stay compliant but also strengthen trust with your tenants.
At Chambers Theory, we help property owners and investors across Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland stay ahead of changing laws while protecting their investments. Our commitment to professional property management ensures that your properties remain compliant, profitable, and tenant-friendly in every way.
Learn more about how we support property owners. Contact us today!
