Free Virginia Residential Lease Agreement Form
Create a residential lease agreement that meets all the requirements necessary in Virginia State. Start today with the help of step-by-step instructions and our contract generator.
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What is a Virginia Standard Lease Agreement
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
Types of Virginia Lease Agreements
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 Addendums and Disclosures
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.
Virginia Lease Agreement Laws
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.
Virginia Residential Lease Agreement Sample
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.

FAQs About Virginia Lease Agreement
It is important to carefully prepare a Virginia lease agreement to suit the needs of the landlord and tenant exactly. To help demystify the process a little simply review our FAQs below to learn more about the specificities of rental contracts in Virginia.
What Are the Advantages of a Written Lease?
It’s important to have a written Virginia lease agreement in operation whether you are a landlord or a tenant. There are many advantages to having a formal contract for a rental property such as the right to recourse if the terms are violated and the protection of important legal rights for rental property owners and residents.
When can a landlord change the lease?
Usually, a VA lease agreement cannot be changed once it is signed. Its terms will remain fixed until it reaches its agreed expiration date or it is terminated due to a violation by either party.
With a rental agreement or month-by-month tenancy, however, the terms of the agreement can potentially be changed each rental period. This means the landlord can amend or end the terms of the contract every 30 days if they wish.
Do I need to notarize my Virginia residential lease agreement?
It is not necessary to notarize a Virginia residential lease agreement. However, whilst this might not be a legal requirement in Virginia state, signees are still advised to consider this step to provide further legal enforceability.

You are only a few steps away from your own Virginia Lease Agreement!