Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods.
Summary
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods. Prohibits a landlord subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a tenant any fee for the collection or processing of any payment of rent, security deposit, or any other fees, unless the landlord offers an alternative method of payment that does not include additional fees. This bill is identical to SB 1356.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 7, 2025
Signed Apr 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
General Laws Substitute
→
Chaptered
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Virginia's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify payment requirements and late fees. The main substantive change is reorganizing subsection J to remove the requirement that landlords accept various payment methods (checks, electronic transfers, cards, cash, money orders) while keeping the receipt requirement for cash/money orders and the prohibition on payment processing fees. The bill also adds formatting and chapter information typical of enacted legislation.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on rental agreements and payment methods in Virginia, but the payment method requirements have been significantly altered.
REQUIREMENT
Removed the mandate that landlords must accept rent payments via check, electronic funds transfer, debit or credit card, cash, and money order.
Kept the requirement that landlords provide written receipts for cash or money order payments upon tenant request.
Maintained the prohibition on charging fees for payment collection unless alternative fee-free methods are offered.
TECHNICAL
Added chapter heading, session information, and formatting consistent with enacted Virginia legislation.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 14, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2025
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
Feb 14, 2025
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
38
Key actions
12
Committee
6
Apr 2, 2025
Signed into law
Governor's recommendation adopted
executive
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (90-Y 4-N)
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Vetoed
Governor's recommendation received by House
executive
Feb 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2218ER)
lower
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (38-Y 1-N)
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws with substitute (12-Y 10-N)
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
Assigned GL sub: Housing/Consumer Protection
lower
Jan 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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