{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-1207.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-1207.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-1207.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-1207.html"}],"law_id":60062,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60062,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1207","catch_line":"Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement","history":"1974, c. 680, \u00a7 55-248.8; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"If the landlord does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to him by the tenant, acceptance of rent without reservation by the landlord gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the landlord. If the tenant does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to him by the landlord, acceptance of possession or payment of rent without reservation gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant. If a rental agreement given effect pursuant to this section provides for a term longer than one year, it is effective for only one year.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":219835,"text":"If the landlord does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to him by the tenant, acceptance of rent without reservation by the landlord gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the landlord. If the tenant does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to him by the landlord, acceptance of possession or payment of rent without reservation gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant. If a rental agreement given effect pursuant to this section provides for a term longer than one year, it is effective for only one year.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15277,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:32","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:32","permalink":{"id":245887,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15277,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1","url":"\/55.1\/III\/12\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13073,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:53","permalink":{"id":245885,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14100,"identifier":"12","token":"55.1\/III\/12","url":"\/55.1\/III\/12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13073,"edition_id":1,"name":"Rental Conveyances","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12707,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:14","permalink":{"id":245883,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13073,"identifier":"III","token":"55.1\/III","url":"\/55.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12707,"edition_id":1,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":244769,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12707,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61413,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/55.1-1200\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1200","metadata":false},{"id":83636,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1201","catch_line":"Applicability of chapter; 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local government fees","url":"\/55.1-1212\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1212","metadata":false},{"id":61504,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1213","catch_line":"Transfer of deposits upon purchase","url":"\/55.1-1213\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1213","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68710,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1206","catch_line":"Landlord may obtain certain insurance for tenant","url":"\/55.1-1206\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1206","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":64224,"structure_id":15277,"section_number":"55.1-1208","catch_line":"Prohibited provisions in rental agreements","url":"\/55.1-1208\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1208","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-1207\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 680 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85946,"section_number":"55.1-1311","catch_line":"Other provisions of law applicable","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1311\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":245921,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60062,"identifier":"55.1-1207","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1207","url":"\/55.1-1207\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-1207\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/1\/55.1-1207","dublin_core":{"Title":"Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-1207","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

If the landlord<\/span> does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement<\/span> signed and delivered to him by the tenant<\/span>, acceptance of rent<\/span> without reservation by the landlord<\/span> gives<\/span> the rental agreement<\/span> the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the landlord<\/span>. If the tenant<\/span> does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement<\/span> signed and delivered to him by the landlord<\/span>, acceptance of possession<\/span> or payment of rent<\/span> without reservation gives<\/span> the rental agreement<\/span> the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant<\/span>. If a rental agreement<\/span> given effect pursuant to this section provides for a term longer than one year, it is effective for only one year.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEFFECT OF UNSIGNED OR UNDELIVERED RENTAL AGREEMENT (\u00a7 55.1-1207)\n\nIf the landlord does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and\ndelivered to him by the tenant, acceptance of rent without reservation by the\nlandlord gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and\ndelivered by the landlord. If the tenant does not sign and deliver a written\nrental agreement signed and delivered to him by the landlord, acceptance of\npossession or payment of rent without reservation gives the rental agreement the\nsame effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant. If a rental\nagreement given effect pursuant to this section provides for a term longer than\none year, it is effective for only one year.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 680, \u00a7 55-248.8; 2019, c. 712.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}