Staying Ahead of Virginia's Changing Landlord-Tenant Laws

Elizabeth Handwerk • August 7, 2026

Last week, Homeward hosted a Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law Training led by emeritus pro bono attorney Martin Wegbreit, who has worked with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society for over 40 years. This event brought together case managers, housing navigators, and other frontline professionals from across the Greater Richmond region.

With several recent changes to Virginia residential landlord-tenant laws, and additional updates taking effect in the coming months, the training provided timely guidance to help housing professionals better advocate for and support the people they serve. Many of the legislative changes are designed to create a fairer process for tenants while also providing greater clarity for landlords.


Topics covered during the training included:

· Changes to the timeframe for notices of nonpayment of rent

· New requirements for how landlords can collect rent and accepted forms of payment

· Updates to eligibility for Virginia's Eviction Diversion Program (EDP)

· Expanded protections against the unlawful interruption of essential services, including air conditioning in certain circumstances

· Other important changes to Virginia's landlord-tenant laws


By staying current on these legal updates, case managers and housing navigators are better equipped to help clients understand their rights, prevent avoidable evictions, and maintain stable housing.


A special thank you to CARITAS for generously hosting the training and providing a welcoming space for this important learning opportunity!


For those interested in learning more, the Virginia Legislative Information System maintains the most up-to-date version of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, including recent amendments. Additional information about recent legislative changes is also available through the Virginia Code updates.

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