{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-1235.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-1235.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-1235.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-1235.html"}],"law_id":60083,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60083,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1235","catch_line":"Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel","history":"1977, c. 427, \u00a7 55-248.21:1; 1978, c. 104; 1982, c. 260; 1983, c. 241; 1986, c. 29; 1988, c. 184; 2000, c. 760; 2002, c. 760; 2005, c. 742; 2006, c. 667; 2007, c. 252; 2017, c. 730; 2019, c. 712; 2024, cc. 28, 154.","full_text":"A\n\nAny member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a member of the National Guard serving on full-time duty or as a civil service technician with the National Guard may, through the procedure detailed in subsection B, terminate his rental agreement if the member (i) has received permanent change of station orders; (ii) has received temporary duty orders in excess of three months’ duration; (iii) is discharged or released from active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or from his full-time duty or technician status with the National Guard; (iv) is ordered to report to government-supplied quarters resulting in the forfeiture of basic allowance for quarters; or (v) has received a stop movement order in response to a local, national, or global emergency that is effective for an indefinite period or for a period of not less than 30 days and that prevents the service member from occupying the leased dwelling unit for a residential purpose.B\n\nTenants who qualify to terminate a rental agreement pursuant to subsection A shall do so by serving on the landlord a written notice of termination to be effective on a date stated in such written notice, such date to be not less than 30 days after the first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable after the date on which the written notice is given. The termination date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date of departure necessary to comply with the official orders or any supplemental instructions for interim training or duty prior to the transfer. Prior to the termination date, the tenant shall furnish the landlord with a copy of the official notification of the orders or a signed letter, confirming the orders, from the tenant’s commanding officer.C\n\nThe landlord may not charge any liquidated damages.D\n\nNothing in this section shall affect the tenant’s obligations established by § 55.1-1227.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":219881,"text":"Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a member of the National Guard serving on full-time duty or as a civil service technician with the National Guard may, through the procedure detailed in subsection B, terminate his rental agreement if the member (i) has received permanent change of station orders; (ii) has received temporary duty orders in excess of three months’ duration; (iii) is discharged or released from active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or from his full-time duty or technician status with the National Guard; (iv) is ordered to report to government-supplied quarters resulting in the forfeiture of basic allowance for quarters; or (v) has received a stop movement order in response to a local, national, or global emergency that is effective for an indefinite period or for a period of not less than 30 days and that prevents the service member from occupying the leased dwelling unit for a residential purpose.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":219882,"text":"Tenants who qualify to terminate a rental agreement pursuant to subsection A shall do so by serving on the landlord a written notice of termination to be effective on a date stated in such written notice, such date to be not less than 30 days after the first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable after the date on which the written notice is given. The termination date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date of departure necessary to comply with the official orders or any supplemental instructions for interim training or duty prior to the transfer. Prior to the termination date, the tenant shall furnish the landlord with a copy of the official notification of the orders or a signed letter, confirming the orders, from the tenant’s commanding officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":219883,"text":"The landlord may not charge any liquidated damages.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":219884,"text":"Nothing in this section shall affect the tenant’s obligations established by § 55.1-1227.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Tenant Remedies","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:34","permalink":{"id":246041,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15022,"identifier":"4","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4","url":"\/55.1\/III\/12\/4\/","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":84339,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1234","catch_line":"Noncompliance by landlord","url":"\/55.1-1234\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1234","metadata":false},{"id":63784,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1234.1","catch_line":"Uninhabitable dwelling unit","url":"\/55.1-1234.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1234.1","metadata":false},{"id":60083,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1235","catch_line":"Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel","url":"\/55.1-1235\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1235","metadata":false},{"id":68972,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1236","catch_line":"Early termination of rental agreements by victims of family abuse, sexual abuse or other criminal sexual assault, or stalking","url":"\/55.1-1236\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1236","metadata":false},{"id":65508,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1237","catch_line":"Notice to tenant in event of foreclosure","url":"\/55.1-1237\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1237","metadata":false},{"id":76367,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1238","catch_line":"Failure to deliver possession","url":"\/55.1-1238\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1238","metadata":false},{"id":63674,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1239","catch_line":"Wrongful failure to supply an essential service","url":"\/55.1-1239\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1239","metadata":false},{"id":69167,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1240","catch_line":"Fire or casualty damage","url":"\/55.1-1240\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1240","metadata":false},{"id":78917,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1241","catch_line":"Landlord's noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent","url":"\/55.1-1241\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1241","metadata":false},{"id":77626,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1242","catch_line":"Rent escrow required for continuance of tenant's case","url":"\/55.1-1242\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1242","metadata":false},{"id":66990,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1243","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/55.1-1243\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1243","metadata":false},{"id":59240,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1243.1","catch_line":"Tenant's remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit, interruption of services, or actions taken to make premises unsafe","url":"\/55.1-1243.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1243.1","metadata":false},{"id":57281,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1243.2","catch_line":"Tenant's remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit due to condemnation","url":"\/55.1-1243.2\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1243.2","metadata":false},{"id":69403,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1244","catch_line":"Tenant's assertion; rent escrow","url":"\/55.1-1244\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1244","metadata":false},{"id":58681,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1244.1","catch_line":"Tenant's remedy by repair","url":"\/55.1-1244.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1244.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63784,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1234.1","catch_line":"Uninhabitable dwelling unit","url":"\/55.1-1234.1\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1234.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68972,"structure_id":15022,"section_number":"55.1-1236","catch_line":"Early termination of rental agreements by victims of family abuse, sexual abuse or other criminal sexual assault, or stalking","url":"\/55.1-1236\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1236","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-1235\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 427 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 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 13 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 104; in 1982, chapter 260; in 1983, chapter 241; in 1986, chapter 29; in 1988, chapter 184; in 2000, chapter 760<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 760<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 742<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 667<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 252<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 730<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 28<\/a> and 154<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":63220,"section_number":"55.1-1227","catch_line":"Tenant to maintain dwelling unit","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1227\/"}],"permalink":{"id":246051,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60083,"identifier":"55.1-1235","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1235","url":"\/55.1-1235\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-1235\/","token":"55.1\/III\/12\/4\/55.1-1235","dublin_core":{"Title":"Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-1235","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a member of the National Guard serving on full-time duty or as a civil service technician with the National Guard may, through the procedure detailed in subsection B, terminate his rental agreement<\/span> if the member (i) has received permanent change of station orders<\/span>; (ii) has received temporary duty orders<\/span> in excess of three months’ duration; (iii) is discharged or released from active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or from his full-time duty or technician status with the National Guard; (iv) is ordered to report to government-supplied quarters resulting in the forfeiture of basic allowance for quarters; or (v) has received a stop movement order<\/span> in response to a local, national, or global emergency that is effective for an indefinite period or for a period of not less than 30 days and that prevents the service member from occupying the leased dwelling unit<\/span> for a residential purpose. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Tenants<\/span> who qualify to terminate a rental agreement<\/span> pursuant to subsection A shall do so by serving on the landlord<\/span> a written notice<\/span> of termination to be effective on a date stated in such written notice<\/span>, such date to be not less than 30 days after the first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable after the date on which the written notice<\/span> is given. The termination date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date of departure necessary to comply with the official orders<\/span> or any supplemental instructions for interim training or duty prior to the transfer. Prior to the termination date, the tenant<\/span> shall furnish the landlord<\/span> with a copy of the official notification of the orders<\/span> or a signed letter, confirming the orders<\/span>, from the tenant<\/span>’s commanding officer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The landlord<\/span> may not charge any liquidated damages<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall affect the tenant<\/span>’s obligations established by § 55.1-1227<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEARLY TERMINATION OF RENTAL AGREEMENT BY MILITARY PERSONNEL (\u00a7 55.1-1235)\n\nA. Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a member of the\nNational Guard serving on full-time duty or as a civil service technician with\nthe National Guard may, through the procedure detailed in subsection B,\nterminate his rental agreement if the member (i) has received permanent change\nof station orders; (ii) has received temporary duty orders in excess of three\nmonths’ duration; (iii) is discharged or released from active duty with\nthe Armed Forces of the United States or from his full-time duty or technician\nstatus with the National Guard; (iv) is ordered to report to government-supplied\nquarters resulting in the forfeiture of basic allowance for quarters; or (v) has\nreceived a stop movement order in response to a local, national, or global\nemergency that is effective for an indefinite period or for a period of not less\nthan 30 days and that prevents the service member from occupying the leased\ndwelling unit for a residential purpose.\n\nB. Tenants who qualify to terminate a rental agreement pursuant to subsection A\nshall do so by serving on the landlord a written notice of termination to be\neffective on a date stated in such written notice, such date to be not less than\n30 days after the first date on which the next rental payment is due and payable\nafter the date on which the written notice is given. The termination date shall\nbe no more than 60 days prior to the date of departure necessary to comply with\nthe official orders or any supplemental instructions for interim training or\nduty prior to the transfer. Prior to the termination date, the tenant shall\nfurnish the landlord with a copy of the official notification of the orders or a\nsigned letter, confirming the orders, from the tenant’s commanding\nofficer.\n\nC. The landlord may not charge any liquidated damages.\n\nD. Nothing in this section shall affect the tenant’s obligations\nestablished by § 55.1-1227.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 427, \u00a7 55-248.21:1; 1978, c. 104; 1982, c. 260; 1983, c. 241;\n1986, c. 29; 1988, c. 184; 2000, c. 760; 2002, c. 760; 2005, c. 742; 2006, c.\n667; 2007, c. 252; 2017, c. 730; 2019, c. 712; 2024, cc. 28, 154.","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}}