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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85575</law_id><section_number>55.1-1250</section_number><catch_line>Landlord&amp;#8217;s acceptance of rent with reservation; tenant&amp;#8217;s right of redemption</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>36-139</reference><reference>55.1-1262</reference><reference>55.1-1309</reference><reference>8.01-454</reference><reference>8.01-471</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 id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may accept full payment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span>, as well as any <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, award of attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, and receive an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> from a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> pursuant to an <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span> filed under Article 13 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Motion for judgment in circuit court for unlawful entry or detainer" href="/8.01-124/">8.01-124</a> et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01 and proceed with eviction under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective the later of July 1, 2028, or 7 years after the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency expires) Noncompliance with rental agreement; monetary penalty" href="/55.1-1245/">55.1-1245</a>, unless there are bases for the entry of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> other than nonpayment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span> stated in the <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span> filed by the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>. However, a <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> may accept partial payment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span> and other amounts owed by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> and receive an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> from a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of competent <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> pursuant to an <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span> filed under Article 13 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Motion for judgment in circuit court for unlawful entry or detainer" href="/8.01-124/">8.01-124</a> et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 8.01 and proceed with eviction for nonpayment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective the later of July 1, 2028, or 7 years after the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency expires) Noncompliance with rental agreement; monetary penalty" href="/55.1-1245/">55.1-1245</a>, provided that the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> has stated in a <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> that any and all amounts owed to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, including payment of any <span class="dictionary">rent</span>, <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, award of attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, would be accepted with reservation and would not constitute a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s right to evict the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> from the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span>. Such notice may be included in a written termination notice given by the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective the later of July 1, 2028, or 7 years after the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency expires) Noncompliance with rental agreement; monetary penalty" href="/55.1-1245/">55.1-1245</a>, and if so included, nothing herein shall be construed by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of <span class="dictionary">law</span> or otherwise as requiring such <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> to give the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> subsequent <span class="dictionary">written notice</span>. Such notice shall include the following language: &#x201C;Any partial payment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span> made before or after a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> is ordered will not prevent your <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> from taking action to evict you. However, full payment of all amounts you owe the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>, including all <span class="dictionary">rent</span> as contracted for in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> that is owed to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> as of the date payment is made, as well as any <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, award of attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs made at least 48 hours before the scheduled eviction will cause the eviction to be canceled, unless there are bases for the entry of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> other than nonpayment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span> stated in the <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span> filed by the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>.&#x201D; If the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> elects to seek <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Summons for unlawful detainer issued by magistrate or clerk or judge of a general district court" href="/8.01-126/">8.01-126</a>, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall provide a copy of this notice to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> for service to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, along with the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> for unlawful detainer. If the <span class="dictionary">dwelling unit</span> is a public housing unit or other housing unit subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, nothing in this section shall be construed to require that <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> be given to any public agency paying a portion of the <span class="dictionary">rent</span> under the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>. If a <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> enters into a new written <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> with the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> prior to eviction, an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> obtained prior to the entry of such new <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> is not enforceable. Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, a <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> with four or fewer rental <span class="dictionary">dwelling units</span>, or up to a 10 percent interest in four or fewer rental <span class="dictionary">dwelling units</span>, may limit a <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>&#x2019;s use of the right of <span class="dictionary">redemption</span> to once per lease period, provided that the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> provides <span class="dictionary">written notice</span> of such limitation to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>. <a id="paragraph-306543" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1250/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> may pay or present to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> a <span class="dictionary">redemption tender</span> for payment of all <span class="dictionary">rent</span> due and owing as of the return date, including late charges, attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, at or before the first return date on an action for unlawful detainer.
			If the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> presents a <span class="dictionary">redemption tender</span> to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> at the return date, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall continue the action for unlawful detainer for 10 days following the return date for payment to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> of all <span class="dictionary">rent</span> due and owing as of the return date, including late charges, attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, and dismiss the action upon such payment. Should the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> not receive full payment of all <span class="dictionary">rent</span> due and owing as of the return date, including late charges, attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, within 10 days of the return date, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall, without further <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, grant to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for all amounts due and immediate <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the <span class="dictionary">premises</span>. For purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">redemption tender</span>&#x201D; means a written commitment to pay all <span class="dictionary">rent</span> due and owing as of the return date, including late charges, attorney fees, and <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, by a local government or nonprofit entity within 10 days of such return date. <a id="paragraph-306544" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1250/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In cases of unlawful detainer, a <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, or any third <span class="dictionary">party</span> on behalf of a <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, may pay the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> or the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s attorney or pay into <span class="dictionary">court</span> all (i) <span class="dictionary">rent</span> due and owing as of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> date as contracted for in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>, (ii) other charges and fees as contracted for in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span>, (iii) late charges contracted for in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> and as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, (iv) reasonable attorney fees as contracted for in the <span class="dictionary">rental agreement</span> and as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, and (v) costs of the proceeding as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, at which time the unlawful detainer proceeding shall be dismissed, unless there are bases for the entry of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">possession</span> other than nonpayment of <span class="dictionary">rent</span> stated in the <span class="dictionary">unlawful detainer action</span> filed by the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>. <a id="paragraph-306545" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1250/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If such payment has not been made as of the return date for the unlawful detainer, the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, or any third <span class="dictionary">party</span> on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, may pay to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s attorney, or the <span class="dictionary">court</span> all amounts claimed on the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> in unlawful detainer, including current <span class="dictionary">rent</span>, <span class="dictionary">damages</span>, late charges, costs of <span class="dictionary">court</span>, any civil recovery, attorney fees, and sheriff fees, including the sheriff fees for service of the <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of eviction if payment is made after issuance of the <span class="dictionary">writ</span>, no less than 48 hours before the date and time scheduled by the officer to whom the <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of eviction has been delivered to be executed. Upon receipt of such payment, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s attorney or <span class="dictionary">managing agent</span>, shall promptly notify the officer to whom the <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of eviction has been delivered to be executed that the execution of the <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of eviction shall be canceled. If the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> has actual knowledge that the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> has made such payment and willfully fails to provide such notification, such act may be deemed to be a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Tenant's remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit, interruption of services, or actions taken to make premises unsafe" href="/55.1-1243.1/">55.1-1243.1</a>. In addition, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> shall transmit to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> a notice of satisfaction of any money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judgment, when satisfied, to be so noted by creditor" href="/8.01-454/">8.01-454</a>. <a id="paragraph-306546" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1250/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Upon receiving a written request from the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span>, the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span>&#x2019;s attorney or <span class="dictionary">managing agent</span>, shall provide to the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> a written statement of all amounts owed by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> to the <span class="dictionary">landlord</span> so that the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> may pay the exact amount necessary for the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> to exercise his right of redemption pursuant to this section. Any payments made by the <span class="dictionary">tenant</span> shall be by cashier&#x2019;s check, certified check, or money <span class="dictionary">order</span>. A <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall not <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of eviction on any <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for <span class="dictionary">possession</span> that has expired or has been marked as satisfied. <a id="paragraph-306547" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1250/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2003, c. 427, &#xA7; 55-248.34:1; 2006, c. 667; 2008, c. 489; 2010, c. 793; 2012, c. 788; 2013, c. 563; 2014, c. 813; 2018, cc. 220, 233; 2019, cc. 28, 43, 712; 2020, c. 1231; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 410.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
