                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RENT ESCROW REQUIRED FOR CONTINUANCE OF TENANT&#8217;S CASE (§ 55.1-1242)

A. Where a landlord has filed an unlawful detainer action seeking possession of
the premises as provided by this chapter and the tenant seeks to obtain a
continuance of the action or to set it for a contested trial, the court shall,
upon request of the landlord, order the tenant to pay an amount equal to the
rent that is due as of the initial court date into the court escrow account
prior to granting the tenant&#8217;s request for a delayed court date. However,
if the tenant asserts a good faith defense, and the court so finds, the court
shall not require the rent to be escrowed. If the landlord requests a
continuance or to set the case for a contested trial, the court shall not
require the rent to be escrowed.

B. If the court finds that the tenant has not asserted a good faith defense, the
tenant shall be required to pay an amount determined by the court to be proper
into the court escrow account in order for the case to be continued or set for
contested trial. The court may grant the tenant a continuance of no more than
one week to make full payment of the court-ordered amount into the court escrow
account. If the tenant fails to pay the entire amount ordered, the court shall,
upon request of the landlord, enter judgment for the landlord and enter an order
of possession of the premises.

C. The court shall further order that should the tenant fail to pay future rents
due under the rental agreement into the court escrow account, the court shall,
upon the request of the landlord, enter judgment for the landlord and enter an
order of possession of the premises.

D. Upon motion of the landlord, the court may disburse the moneys held in the
court escrow account to the landlord for payment of his mortgage or other
expenses relating to the dwelling unit.

E. Except as provided in subsection D, no rent required to be escrowed under
this section shall be disbursed within 10 days of the date of the judgment
unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. If an appeal is taken by the
plaintiff, the rent held in escrow shall be transmitted to the clerk of the
circuit court to be held in such court escrow account pending the outcome of the
appeal.

HISTORY: 1999, cc. 382, 506, § 55-248.25:1; 2009, c. 137; 2019, c. 712.