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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60083</law_id><section_number>55.1-1235</section_number><catch_line>Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Rental Conveyances</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="4">Tenant Remedies</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">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 <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> if the member (i) has received permanent change of station <span class="dictionary">orders</span>; (ii) has received temporary duty <span class="dictionary">orders</span> in excess of three months&#x2019; 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 <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> for a residential purpose. <a id="paragraph-219881" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1235/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> <span class="dictionary">Tenants</span> who qualify to terminate a <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> pursuant to subsection A shall do so by serving on the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> a <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> of termination to be effective on a date stated in such <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or any supplemental instructions for interim training or duty prior to the transfer. Prior to the termination date, the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> shall furnish the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> with a copy of the official notification of the <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or a signed letter, confirming the <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, from the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>&#x2019;s commanding officer. <a id="paragraph-219882" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1235/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may not charge any liquidated <span class="dictionary">damages</span>. <a id="paragraph-219883" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1235/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this section shall affect the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>&#x2019;s obligations established by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Tenant to maintain dwelling unit" href="/55.1-1227/">55.1-1227</a>. <a id="paragraph-219884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1235/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1977, c. 427, &#xA7; 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.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
