Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Virginia?
No. In Virginia, a landlord who knows a tenant has complained to a code agency, made a complaint or filed an action against the landlord, joined a tenants’ organization, or testified against the landlord may not retaliate by raising the rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction. Until January 1, 2027 the tenant must prove retaliatory intent; an amended section taking effect that day adds refusing to renew a tenant who pays with a housing voucher, selective rule enforcement and harassment to the list of prohibited acts. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is Va. Code § 55.1-1258.
| What | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Retaliation by a landlord | Prohibited by statute |
| Time period in the statute | Prohibited; no set period |
| How the period works | No period; the tenant proves retaliation |
Source
Va. Code § 55.1-1258
Read the statute in the Code of Virginia (Virginia General Assembly): law.lis.virginia.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.
Guides on this rule
- Landlord Retaliation Laws: Protected Tenant Acts and Time Limits — When an eviction, rent increase or cut in services is presumed retaliatory: 180 days in California, six months in Texas, a year in New York.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
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