Virginia’s New Tenant Protections | Charlottesville News

Charlottesville News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 27, 2026 · 1m

New tenant protections just went into effect across Virginia, giving renters more time to catch up on rent and shielding them from paying when their homes are unsafe. After years of soaring eviction rates and a system tilted toward landlords, these landmark laws extend the grace period from five days to two weeks and allow tenants to withhold rent if their unit is uninhabitable. While experts note landlords may tighten initial notices and tenants still need to follow specific steps, these changes mark a major shift toward fairness — with more reforms on the horizon, including payment plans…