Which disclosures must a Virginia lease include?
Some Virginia disclosures apply to every lease; others are triggered by the property's condition or location:
| Disclosure | Statute | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities | § 55.1-1204 | Every lease |
| Move-in inspection report / visible mold | §§ 55.1-1214, 55.1-1215 | Every lease |
| Defective drywall | § 55.1-1218 | When the landlord has knowledge |
| Prior methamphetamine manufacture | § 55.1-1219 | If not remediated and landlord knows |
| Adjacent military air installation / noise zone | § 55.1-1217 | Property near such a zone |
| Demolition or tenant relocation | § 55.1-1216 | Multifamily displacement plans |
| Lead-based paint hazard + EPA pamphlet | Title X (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
The Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities (§ 55.1-1204)
Every Virginia lease must be accompanied by the Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities developed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The landlord must provide it with the written agreement and deliver a copy within the statutory window; critically, a landlord may not file an unlawful-detainer (eviction) action until the statement has been provided. It is the single most important Virginia-specific disclosure to get right.
The move-in inspection report and mold disclosure (§§ 55.1-1214, 55.1-1215)
Within 5 days after the tenant takes occupancy, the landlord must provide a written move-in inspection report itemizing existing damage; it is deemed correct unless the tenant objects in writing within 5 days (§ 55.1-1214). If the report notes the presence of visible mold, the tenant may terminate or the landlord must remediate (§ 55.1-1215). The report is also the foundation of any later security-deposit deduction.
Condition- and location-triggered disclosures
- Defective drywall (§ 55.1-1218): if the landlord knows the unit contains defective (often imported) drywall, it must be disclosed.
- Prior methamphetamine manufacture (§ 55.1-1219): if the property was used to manufacture meth and has not been remediated, and the landlord has actual knowledge, it must be disclosed.
- Military air installation (§ 55.1-1217): if the dwelling is in a locality with a military air installation, the landlord must disclose whether it is in an accident-potential or noise zone.
- Demolition / relocation (§ 55.1-1216): planned demolition or conversion that would displace tenants, along with owner/manager identity, must be disclosed.
Federal lead-based paint disclosure
For any dwelling built before 1978, federal law (Title X) requires the landlord to provide the signed lead-warning disclosure, any known records, and the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. This is a federal requirement and is not codified in Title 55.1.
What happens if a Virginia landlord skips a required disclosure?
Consequences vary:
- No tenant-rights statement: the landlord cannot file an unlawful-detainer action until it is provided (§ 55.1-1204).
- Missing mold / move-in report: undercuts the landlord's ability to justify deposit deductions and can give the tenant a termination right.
- Federal lead-paint violation: carries civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties plus tenant damages.
Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare Virginia's list with our California and Texas disclosure checklists, and see the baseline in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
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Create your Virginia lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
What disclosures are required in a Virginia lease?
Every Virginia lease must include the Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities (§ 55.1-1204) and a move-in inspection report noting visible mold (§§ 55.1-1214, 55.1-1215). Depending on the property, the landlord must also disclose defective drywall, prior meth manufacture, an adjacent military air installation, and demolition/relocation plans, plus the federal lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing.
Can a Virginia landlord evict without giving the tenant-rights statement?
No. Under Va. Code § 55.1-1204 a landlord may not file an unlawful-detainer action until the Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities has been provided to the tenant.
Does Virginia require a mold disclosure?
Yes, through the move-in inspection report. If the report notes visible mold, the tenant may terminate or the landlord must remediate (Va. Code §§ 55.1-1214, 55.1-1215).
Does Virginia require a methamphetamine disclosure?
Yes, if applicable. If the property was used to manufacture methamphetamine, has not been remediated, and the landlord has actual knowledge, the landlord must disclose it (Va. Code § 55.1-1219).
Does Virginia require a lead-based paint disclosure?
Yes, for pre-1978 housing. This is a federal requirement (Title X): the signed lead-warning disclosure, known records, and the EPA pamphlet.
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.