Virginia Rent Increase Laws: Limits & Notice 2026

Currently, Virginia remains one of the stronger free-market states on the East Coast. There is no statewide rent control, and the state legislature has historically preempted local municipalities from enacting their own rent stabilization ordinances. However, this preemption is under intense legislative pressure.

No Statewide Rent Control (Currently)

Under the current VRLTA, landlords can generally set rent amounts and increase them to market rates when a fixed-term lease expires or when raising rent on a month-to-month tenancy. There are no statutory percentage caps limiting how high a landlord can raise the rent.

Required Notice Periods

While the amount of the increase is not capped, the timing is regulated:

• Month-to-Month Tenancy: A landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice before increasing the rent.
• Fixed-Term Leases: Rent cannot be increased mid-lease unless the lease explicitly contains a mid-term rent escalation clause (which is highly unusual in residential leases). The landlord must offer the higher rent for the upcoming renewal term.

The 60-Day "Non-Renewal" Rule

If a landlord wishes to raise the rent significantly and the tenant declines to renew, or if the landlord simply wants to end the tenancy, specific notice rules apply depending on portfolio size.

Landlords who own more than four rental units (or have a 10% interest in more than four units) must provide tenants with 60 days' written notice if they do not intend to renew a lease that contains an automatic renewal provision or an option to renew.

2025 Legislative Warnings: Rent Control on the Horizon?

Virginia landlords must pay close attention to the 2025 legislative session. A highly debated bill passed by the Virginia House of Delegates in early 2024 (and deferred to 2025) seeks to overturn the state's historical ban on local rent control.

If passed, this legislation would:

1. Allow localities (like Richmond, Alexandria, or Fairfax) to independently limit rent increases.
2. Mandate two months' (60 days) written notice for rent increases across the board.
3. Establish local "anti-rent gouging" boards to review increases.

While not law yet, it signals a massive potential shift in Virginia's real estate market.

Proactive Lease Renewals

With the potential for 60-day renewal notices becoming mandatory statewide, waiting until the last minute to send renewal offers is risky. Landager automates your renewal pipeline, pinging tenants with clear, compliant new rent offers 75 days before lease expiration, ensuring you execute new leases well ahead of statutory deadlines.

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How Landager Helps

With Virginia's potential shift toward local rent control, staying ahead of renewal deadlines is critical. Landager automates your renewal pipeline, calculating market-rate adjustments and issuing compliant 30-day or 60-day notices automatically. The platform ensures you never miss a statutory notice window, protecting your ability to adjust rent in accordance with VA Code § 55.1-1237.1.

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