Virginia Beach Residential Lease Agreement

A residential lease agreement in Virginia Beach is a binding document between a landlord and a tenant. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions surrounding the use of a rental property in exchange for payment.

Residential Lease Agreement Requirements in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach has no city-specific residential lease agreement requirements or disclosures. As such, landlords and tenants in Virginia Beach follow Virginia requirements for lease agreements.

Landlord-Tenant Rights and Regulations in Virginia Beach

When it comes to landlord-tenant laws, Virginia Beach landlords should be aware of the following:

Landlord Engagement and Partnership Program

In June 2023, Virginia Beach launched its new Landlord Engagement and Partnership Program (LEAP). The goal of LEAP is to encourage landlords and property managers to be more involved in expanding affordable housing opportunities. By leasing their property to program participants, landlords are eligible for certain benefits, including:

• Up to two months of rent for security deposits
• $500 to $1,000 bonus for leasing to program participants
• Vouchers guarantee 70% to 100% paid rent
• Consistent rent payments
• Tax incentives (in some cases)

Noise Ordinance

Virginia Beach has a noise ordinance making it illegal to create sound that can be heard from another person’s dwelling between the hours of 10:00 pm and 7:00 am. Exceptions to this ordinance include: [1]

• School activities or other city-approved events
• Religious or political gatherings
• Lawn maintenance or agriculture activities
• Construction, maintenance, repairs, or demolition

Optional Lease Agreement Disclosures and Addendums in Virginia Beach

While not mandatory, landlords can add specific disclosures and addendums to their leases. This helps outline the responsibilities of the tenant and can prevent future liability issues.

Pest Control Addendum

Cockroaches, termites, and mosquitos are among the most common pests in Virginia Beach—which is why landlords may want to include a pest control addendum in the lease agreement. This should highlight the tenants’ responsibilities related to pest prevention, including reporting any signs of pests to management as soon as possible.

Parking Rules Addendum

Since Virginia Beach is primarily a driving city, landlords may want to include a parking addendum to clearly outline the building’s parking policy. This should include information on assigned parking spots, street parking rules, and any prohibited uses of the parking space.

Summary of Required Lease Disclosures for the State of Virginia

• Landlord’s Name and Address – Virginia leases must contain the name and address of the landlord or authorized agent.
• Move-In Checklist – Virginia landlords must provide a move-in checklist to inventory existing property damage when the tenant takes possession of the rental property.
• Mold – Virginia landlords must disclose any visible evidence of mold in the rental unit, in writing, with any initial inventory of the rental property.
• Shared Utilities Agreement – In Virginia, when multiple rental units share a utility meter for the entire property, the landlord may charge separately for utilities through the installation of a submetering system, ratio billing system, or other method.
• Demolition or Displacement Notice – Virginia landlords who plan to displace tenants within six months of move-in due to property demolition, rehabilitation, or conversion must disclose the incoming displacement in the rental agreement.
• Military Air Installation Disclosure – Virginia rentals must disclose a risk for noise disturbances and/or accidents when located near a relevant military air installation.
• Defective Drywall Disclosure – Virginia rental property with knowledge of potentially hazardous defective drywall must disclose this fact in the rental agreement.
• Methamphetamine Contamination Disclosure – Virginia landlords must disclose any knowledge relating to methamphetamine manufacturing or contamination on rental property.
• Lead-Based Paint – It is a federal law in the United States that any home built prior to 1978 must disclose the risks posed by lead-based paint.