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Virginia2026Enacted

HB329

Virginia Law Prohibits Landlord Retaliation Against Tenants

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 5:26 AM

In one sentence

This law stops landlords from punishing tenants for certain actions, like complaining about housing conditions or participating in tenant activities.

What it does

  • Adds more actions that landlords cannot take as retaliation against tenants who complain about building codes or participate in tenant organizations.
  • Allows tenants to sue landlords if they are retaliated against and win damages.
  • Specifies that landlords can still increase rent or decrease services equally for all tenants, even after a complaint.

Who it affects

  • Landlords who manage residential properties in Virginia.
  • Tenants living in rental homes and manufactured home lots in Virginia.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if a landlord violates these rules before January 1, 2027.
  • It is unclear how this law will be enforced and what penalties landlords might face for breaking it.

Plain language

Terms to know

retaliatory conduct
Actions taken by a landlord to punish a tenant for exercising their rights, such as complaining about housing conditions or joining a tenants' organization.
tenant-based rental assistance
Financial help provided to tenants to pay rent and utilities, often through government programs like the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; retaliatory conduct prohibited. Adds numerous actions to the list of prohibited retaliatory actions by a landlord against a tenant under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act and specifies actions by a tenant for which a landlord may not retaliate. The bill modifies and expands the list of actions a landlord may take without violating the prohibition on retaliation. The bill allows a tenant, when the landlord has unlawfully retaliated, to recover actual damages and to assert retaliation as a defense in any action brought against him for possession. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text reprinted (CHAP1111)Governor
  2. Approved by Governor - Chapter 1111 (effective 1/1/2027)Governor
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  4. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  5. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  6. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  7. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  8. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  9. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  10. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  11. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  12. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1111)Governor
  13. Acts of Assembly Chapter text reprinted (CHAP1111)Governor
  14. Acts of Assembly Chapter textGovernor
  15. Acts of Assembly Chapter textGovernor
  16. Acts of Assembly Chapter textGovernor
  17. Acts of Assembly Chapter textGovernor
  18. Governor's recommendation adoptedGovernor
  19. Signed by SpeakerHouse
  20. Signed by PresidentSenate

Changes

Amendments

4 stored

HB329G

(HB329) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

HB329ASC1

OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/03/2026 HB 329 GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.

HB329AS1

3/05/2026 (HB329) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.

HB329EDOC

3/09/2026 (HB329) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.