Bill Text: VA HB352 | 2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; early termination for military personnel, stop certain order.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-08 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0028) [HB352 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB352-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §55.1-1235 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§55.1-1235. Early termination of rental agreement by military personnel.
A. 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 rental agreement if the member (i) has received
permanent change of station orders to depart 35 miles or more (radius) from
the location of the dwelling unit,; (ii) has received temporary duty
orders in excess of three months' duration to depart 35 miles or more
(radius) from the location of the dwelling unit,; (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,
or; (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 order 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 dwelling unit for a residential purpose.
B. Tenants who qualify to terminate a rental agreement pursuant to subsection A shall do so by serving on the landlord a written notice of termination to be effective on a date stated in such written notice, 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 written notice is given. The termination date shall be no more than 60 days prior to the date of departure necessary to comply with the official orders or any supplemental instructions for interim training or duty prior to the transfer. Prior to the termination date, the tenant shall furnish the landlord with a copy of the official notification of the orders or a signed letter, confirming the orders, from the tenant's commanding officer.
C. The landlord may not charge any liquidated damages.
D. Nothing in this section shall affect the tenant's obligations established by §55.1-1227.
2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.
