Virginia Required Disclosures: The First-Page Rule & Tenant Rights

The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) recently underwent a major overhaul concerning transparency. The state is aggressively pushing landlords to make financial obligations unmistakable for tenants, centering heavily on what is displayed on the very first page of the lease.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virginia disclosure laws are updated frequently. Always consult a Virginia attorney. Information last verified: March 2026.

1. The "First-Page" Fee Disclosure (Effective 2025)

In a massive shift for lease drafting, effective July 1, 2025, Virginia law requires a Comprehensive Fee Disclosure on the first page of the written lease agreement. Landlords can no longer bury fees deep in the addenda.

The following must be clearly displayed on page one:

• The total amount of the security deposit demanded.
• A description of all recurring rent and other regular charges.
• The exact late fee amount or percentage.

If a landlord fails to disclose a fee prominently on the first page, courts may refuse to enforce its collection during an eviction proceeding.

2. Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

Landlords are legally mandated to provide the official Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities to prospective tenants. This form, developed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), must be signed by both the landlord and tenant.

• An updated, modernized version of this form becomes mandatory for all leases executed on or after July 1, 2025.

3. Mold and Defective Drywall Disclosures

Before the tenant moves in, the landlord must disclose any visible evidence of mold in the unit.

• The landlord cannot collect rent if they fail to remediate visible mold after being notified.
• Landlords must also disclose if the property contains defective drywall.

4. Military Air Installation Proximity

If the rental property is located in a designated "noise zone" or "accident potential zone" surrounding a military air installation, the landlord must provide an official, written disclosure to the tenant outlining the risks before the lease is signed.

5. Signed Lease Copies

It is surprisingly common for tenants to never receive a copy of their fully executed lease. Virginia law explicitly requires landlords to provide tenants with a signed copy of the lease agreement within 10 business days of its effective date.

Digitize Your Pre-Lease Flow

Managing the updated 2025 Statement of Tenant Rights alongside custom mold addenda and military base proximity notices creates a brittle onboarding puzzle. Landager binds every required Virginia disclosure directly into the digital application flow. Our e-signature pipeline guarantees that a signed copy is delivered to the tenant's portal instantaneously upon execution, keeping you legally compliant without manual data entry.

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