Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Virginia?
Yes, within limits. In Virginia, if a landlord does not take reasonable steps within 14 days after written notice of a serious condition, such as a lack of heat or water, a fire hazard or a rodent infestation, the tenant may hire a licensed contractor or pest control business and deduct the actual cost, up to one month’s rent or $1,500, whichever is greater, after giving the landlord an itemized statement with receipts. Each step has to be followed as the statute sets it out, including the written notice and the waiting period, or the deduction can be treated as unpaid rent. This is Va. Code § 55.1-1244.1.
| What | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Repair and deduct | Allowed by statute, within a cap |
| Limit | Up to one month’s rent or $1,500, whichever is greater |
Source
Va. Code § 55.1-1244.1
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
Every deadline on this page runs from the tenant’s notice. A repair request filed in Seayora keeps the date it was made and every update after it, on the website and both phone apps, so owner and tenant are working from the same date.
Guides on this rule
- How Long Does a Landlord Have to Make Repairs? Deadlines by State — Repair deadlines after a tenant’s notice in Washington, Texas, Arizona, Oregon, California and Florida, and what a tenant may do if the landlord misses one.
Compare this rule in every state
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