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HB848 • 2026

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord, rent escrow, relief.

An Act to amend and reenact § 55.1-1244 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord; rent escrow; relief.

Housing Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Cousins
Last action
2026-04-22
Official status
Awaiting Governor's Action
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on what happens if a tenant fails to pay rent into escrow or how courts will use information about timely payments when deciding on relief for tenants.

Virginia Landlord and Tenant Act Changes

This act modifies the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act by changing requirements for rent escrow accounts when there are issues with rental agreements.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the requirement that tenants pay past due rent into an escrow account before receiving court relief.
  • Requires tenants to deposit future rent payments into an escrow account within five days of becoming due, unless modified by a subsequent court order.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tenants who have issues with their rental agreements and need court help.
  • Landlords dealing with noncompliant tenants.

Terms To Know

Escrow
A special account where money is kept until a certain condition is met, like when there are problems between landlords and tenants.
Relief
Help or protection given by the court to solve issues in rental agreements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify what happens if a tenant fails to pay rent into escrow.
  • It is unclear how courts will use information about timely payments when deciding on relief for tenants.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB848G

2026-04-11 • Governor

Governor's Recommendation

Plain English: (HB848) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.

  • (HB848) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION 1.
  • Line 91, enrolled strike all of line 91
HB848ASC1

2026-03-03 • Committee

General Laws and Technology Amendment

Plain English: OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/03/2026 HB 848 GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.

  • OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 3/03/2026 HB 848 GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.
  • After line 94, engrossed insert 2.
  • That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
HB848AS1

2026-03-05 • Committee

General Laws and Technology Amendment

Plain English: 3/05/2026 (HB848) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.

  • 3/05/2026 (HB848) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.
  • After line 94, engrossed insert 2.
  • That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
HB848EDOC

2026-03-10 • Senate

Senate Amendment

Plain English: 3/10/2026 (HB848) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.

  • 3/10/2026 (HB848) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE GENERAL LAWS AND TECHNOLOGY 1.
  • After line 94, engrossed insert 2.
  • That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-22 House

    Communicated to Governor

  2. 2026-04-22 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  3. 2026-04-22 House

    House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 33-N 0-A)

  4. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  5. 2026-04-11 Governor

    Governor's recommendation received by House

  6. 2026-04-01 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB848)

  7. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  10. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  11. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  12. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  13. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  14. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  15. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  16. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB848ER)

  17. 2026-03-11 House

    Senate amendment agreed to by House (70-Y 29-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  19. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  20. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  21. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  22. 2026-03-10 General Laws and Technology

    General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  23. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate with amendment (20-Y 19-N 0-A)

  24. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  25. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  26. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  27. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Rules suspended

  28. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  29. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  30. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  31. 2026-03-04 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

  32. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  33. 2026-02-25 Housing

    Assigned GL&T sub: Housing

  34. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  35. 2026-02-10 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  36. 2026-02-09 House

    Read third time and passed House (73-Y 25-N 0-A)

  37. 2026-02-06 House

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  38. 2026-02-06 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  39. 2026-02-05 House

    Read first time

  40. 2026-02-03 General Laws

    Reported from General Laws (21-Y 0-N)

  41. 2026-01-29 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  42. 2026-01-26 Housing/Consumer Protection

    Assigned HGL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection

  43. 2026-01-23 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB848)

  44. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101055D

  45. 2026-01-13 General Laws

    Referred to Committee on General Laws

Official Summary Text

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord; rent escrow; relief.
Removes the requirement that, prior to the granting of any relief, a tenant shall pay into escrow any amount of rent called for under the rental agreement. The bill requires the tenant, during the pendency of the action, to pay into escrow the amount of rent that becomes due within five days of the date due under the rental agreement, unless or until such amount is modified by a subsequent order of the court. The bill also provides that a failure of the tenant to make timely payments into escrow shall not be grounds for dismissal of the underlying action but may be considered by the court when issuing an order. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
(HB848)
GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION
1. Line 91, enrolled
strike
all of line 91