Free Virginia Residential Lease Agreement Form

A standard lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord and a tenant. This is written to conform to state laws where the property is located. In Virginia these allow both parties to comply with a series of set terms for a specified number of months or years.

Rental contracts and lease agreements have a lot of similarities as they both set out payment plans and the terms of use for a house or apartment. However, the big difference is the duration that they cover. Rental agreements usually only cover short-term tenancies of a few months at a time or month-to-month contracts.

A lease agreement should contain the following details:

• How long the tenant may legally reside in the property

• How much rent should be paid

• Information about the security deposits necessary

• When rental installments are due

• Any additional costs that must be serviced by the tenant

• The rules regarding the proper use of the property

• Situations that constitute lease violation eviction procedures

There are many types of VA lease agreement forms that can be used to manage and legally bind many different types of rental situations. They allow landlords to rent out various types of property they might have and for tenants to find the best kind of tenancy for their needs.

The most common types of lease agreements in Virginia include:

• Standard residential lease agreements: Under a standard lease agreement both the landlord and tenant commit to a fixed set of terms that last for a series of months or years.

• Month-to-month rental agreements: Month-to-month lease agreements will often have similar basic terms to standard residential lease contracts. However, they differ as they can be renewed or ended on a month-by-month basis. Their terms may also be flexibly altered each month. 

• Commercial lease agreements: Commercial leases are provided by landlords of retail property to tenants that intend to use the real estate to run a business.

• Room rental agreements: In rental properties with shared living areas a room rental agreement can be used to rent a singular bedroom. 

• Lease to Own Agreement: This type of agreement features an option for the tenant to eventually purchase the property. It also includes the necessary terms and conditions for this transaction to eventually occur. 

• Sublease Agreement: a Virginia sublease agreement allows tenants to reassign or ‘sublease’ the property to another individual. This requires the property landlord’s permission and must be specifically allowed in the original lease.

Virginia lease agreements must contain a few disclosures and addendums when they are completed and signed. This is to properly inform the tenant of any health risks or potential issues with the property or details about how the property is managed that they must be aware of. 

These essential addendums include the following: 

• Lead paint disclosure: If the rental unit is in a building constructed before 1978, the landlord or their agent must disclose whether lead paint can be found on the property and must provide safety information for any located on the premises. 

• Methamphetamine contamination disclosure: Necessary for properties where the landlord knows or suspects the use, storage, or production of methamphetamine has taken place.

• Mold disclosure: Essential for properties where health risks may occur due to mold.

• Military ordinance disclosure: Properties located within 1 mile of known military testing facilities must disclose the fact.

• Demolition permit order: Essential for properties that are scheduled to be demolished during the residential term.

A VA lease agreement must be written and signed within the laws of Virginia state, otherwise, it will be legally contestable and can be declared invalid and block either party from recourse if a violation is committed. These will police how you start and end the contract and control what procedures you can reasonably ask a tenant to follow.

The most important laws to consider when you are renting a property in Virginia include:

• Security deposits: VA landlords may charge no more than two months’ rent if the property is a non-rent control unit. This must be returned to the tenant within 45 days of vacating the property and returning the keys. Landlords must also give advance notice of any deductions.

• Landlord’s right to enter: Landlords can enter the rental property by giving 24 hours’ advance notice (a written notice is recommended). 24 hours’ notice is also required before the landlord may enter to give the final inspection before the tenant moves out.

• Move-in checklist: Tenants must be provided with a rental inspection checklist when moving into the property.

Before beginning the process of creating a residential lease agreement in Virginia it is sensible to review an example document first. Use our VA lease agreement sample below to find out more about the structure and contents of a fully-fledged rental contract.

Besides lease agreements, there are various other legal documents that are commonly used by landlords. If you are the owner of a rental property, one of the following forms may be helpful for you: 

• Virginia Rental application

• Virginia Eviction notice 

In general, when creating any legal document for Virginia, it’s important to check the specific state regulations for both landlords and tenants.