Virginia landlords are revising leases, payment systems and eviction procedures following significant changes to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act that took effect July 1, 2026.
The new laws require covered landlords to accept traditional payment methods, provide certain written receipts and give tenants considerably more time to resolve unpaid rent before terminating a lease.
Nonpayment Notice Expanded to 14 Days
The most consequential change extends Virginia's required nonpayment notice period from five days to 14 days.
Before terminating a rental agreement for unpaid rent, a landlord must now give the tenant written notice and 14 days to pay the outstanding amount. The longer period also applies when a rent check is returned for insufficient funds or an electronic transfer is rejected under circumstances covered by the statute.
Only after the 14-day period expires without payment may the landlord terminate the rental agreement and proceed toward recovering possession. Virginia's updated landlord-tenant law reflects the change enacted through House Bill 15 and Senate Bill 48.
For landlords, the additional nine days could substantially extend the time between a missed payment and an eviction filing. Owners who rely on rent to meet mortgage, insurance and maintenance obligations may feel that delay immediately.
It also makes prompt action more important. Waiting several days before delivering the required notice will push a potential court filing even further into the month.
Checks and Money Orders Must Be Accepted
Virginia landlords covered by the Act must now accept periodic rent and security-deposit payments by both check and money order. An online payment portal may still be offered, but it cannot be the tenant's only option if it prevents payment by these traditional methods.
Landlords must provide a written receipt when rent is paid by cash or money order. They must also offer at least one payment method that does not impose a collection or processing fee.
When a landlord passes along a processing charge for a credit card, debit card or electronic payment, the charge cannot exceed the landlord's actual third-party processing cost. These requirements were enacted through House Bill 1005 and its companion legislation, Senate Bill 313.
A limited exception applies to debit and credit card acceptance: landlords owning four or fewer rental units—or holding no more than a 10% interest in four or fewer units—are not required to accept those card payments. The check, money-order, receipt and fee rules remain important for landlords covered by the Act.
What Virginia Landlords Should Do Now
Landlords and property managers should immediately review their operating procedures:
- Replace five-day nonpayment notices with legally compliant 14-day notices.
- Remove outdated five-day language from leases, templates and software.
- Confirm that tenants can pay rent and deposits by check and money order.
- Create a consistent procedure for issuing written receipts.
- Maintain at least one payment method without an added processing fee.
- Review electronic-payment charges to ensure they do not exceed actual third-party costs.
- Train employees and vendors before accepting payments or preparing eviction notices.
Using an outdated notice could delay or undermine an eviction case. Refusing an authorized payment method or charging an impermissible fee could also expose a landlord to disputes or legal claims.
Why Florida Landlords Should Pay Attention
These Virginia requirements do not govern Florida rental properties. Nevertheless, they reflect a broader legislative trend toward extending pre-eviction timelines, regulating payment platforms and limiting mandatory tenant fees.
Florida landlords should watch developments in other states because similar proposals often move from one legislature to another. Owners who depend entirely on electronic payment portals should also consider whether providing a fee-free alternative is good business practice, even when it is not legally required.
Paul's Take
Virginia's decision to increase a five-day notice to 14 days is not a minor procedural adjustment. It changes the landlord's cash-flow timeline and can add substantial delay before a case ever reaches court.
At the same time, accepting checks and money orders is a reasonable safeguard for tenants who cannot—or do not want to—use an online portal. Technology should make rent collection easier, not become the only doorway through which a tenant can pay.
The practical lesson for landlords everywhere is simple: act promptly, keep your forms current and never assume last year's procedure is still lawful. One outdated notice can cost considerably more than the time required to review the rules.
