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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76367</law_id><section_number>55.1-1238</section_number><catch_line>Failure to deliver possession</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><p>If the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> willfully fails to deliver <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, then <span class="dictionary">rent</span> abates until <span class="dictionary">possession</span> is delivered, and the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> may (i) terminate the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> upon at least five days&#x2019; <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>, upon which termination the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall return all prepaid <span class="dictionary">rent</span> and <span class="dictionary">security deposits</span>, or (ii) demand performance of the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> by the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> elects, he may file an <span class="dictionary">action</span> for <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> against the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> or any <span class="dictionary">person</span> wrongfully in <span class="dictionary">possession</span> and recover the <span class="dictionary">damages</span> sustained by him. If a <span class="dictionary">person</span>&#x2019;s failure to deliver <span class="dictionary">possession</span> is willful and not in <span class="dictionary">good faith</span>, an aggrieved <span class="dictionary">person</span> may recover from that <span class="dictionary">person</span> the actual <span class="dictionary">damages</span> sustained by him and reasonable attorney fees.</p></section></text><history>1974, c. 680, &#xA7; 55-248.22; 2000, c. 760; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
