Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent. Removes the provision requiring that a tenant in possession of a dwelling unit, prior to asserting a defense against an action for rent or possession, pay into court the amount of rent found by the court to be due and unpaid and for such amount to be held by the court pending the issuance of an order. The bill also limits the discretion of the court in actions for possession ba…

Source: OpenStates · fetched April 22, 2026

• RenterdirectModerate impactHigh certainty

  Tenants will no longer be required to pay rent into court before asserting a defense against an action for rent or possession.

  “Removes the provision requiring that a tenant in possession of a dwelling unit, prior to asserting a defense against an action for rent or possession, pay into court the amount of rent found by the court to be due and unpaid and for such amount to be held by the court pending the issuance of an order.”· Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act