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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80239</law_id><section_number>55.1-1249</section_number><catch_line>Remedies for absence, nonuse, and abandonment</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-1229</reference><reference>55.1-1254</reference><reference>55.1-1300</reference></referred_to_by><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="5">Landlord Remedies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> requires the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> to give notice to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> of an anticipated extended absence in excess of seven days and the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> fails to do so, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may recover actual <span class="dictionary">damages</span> from the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>. During any absence of the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> in excess of seven days, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may enter the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> at times reasonably necessary to protect his <span class="dictionary">possessions</span> and property. The <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> is deemed to be terminated by the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> as of the date of abandonment by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> cannot determine whether the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> has been abandoned by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall serve <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> on the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Notice" href="/55.1-1202/">55.1-1202</a> requiring the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> to give <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> within seven days that the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> intends to remain in occupancy of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> <span class="dictionary">gives</span> such <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>, or if the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> otherwise determines that the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> remains in occupancy of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span>, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall not treat the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> as having been abandoned. Unless the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> receives <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> from the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> or otherwise determines that the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> remains in occupancy of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span>, upon the expiration of seven days from the date of the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s notice to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, there shall be a rebuttable <span class="dictionary">presumption</span> that the <span class="dictionary">premises</span> has been abandoned by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, and the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> shall be deemed to terminate on that date. The <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall mitigate <span class="dictionary">damages</span> in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Remedy after termination" href="/55.1-1251/">55.1-1251</a>.</p></section></text><history>1974, c. 680, &#xA7; 55-248.33; 2002, c. 761; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
