Virginia Rent Increase Notice 2026: 60-Day Renewal Rule, 30-Day Holdover Rule & 2027 Change
Virginia does not have one universal rent-increase notice period. In 2026, certain larger landlords must give 60 days before the end of a renewal term, while a separate holdover/month-to-month rule uses 30 days. The qualifying renewal rule changes to 90 days on July 1, 2027.
The short answer
Virginia does not use one notice number for every rent increase. For a qualifying renewal in 2026, Va. Code § 55.1-1204(K) requires a landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units, or more than a 10% interest in more than four units, to give at least 60 days' written notice before the end of the rental term when the tenant has an option to renew or the lease contains an automatic-renewal provision.
A separate rule in § 55.1-1253(D) applies when a rental agreement has ended, the tenant remains with the landlord's agreement as a holdover or month-to-month tenant, and no new rental agreement is entered. In that situation, a new rent amount stated in written notice cannot take effect until the next rent due date coming 30 days after the notice. The correct timing therefore depends on the tenancy structure rather than a single statewide number.
When Virginia's current 60-day renewal rule applies
The 60-day rule in § 55.1-1204(K) is not written as a universal notice requirement for every Virginia landlord or every tenancy. It applies to the specified larger-landlord category and to tenants who have an option to renew a rental agreement or whose agreement contains an automatic-renewal provision.
For that qualifying situation, the current version effective through June 30, 2027 requires written notice of the subsequent-term rent increase no less than 60 days before the end of the rental agreement term. The same subsection excludes a periodic tenancy created under subsection C of § 55.1-1253.
Why some holdover or month-to-month situations use 30 days
Section 55.1-1253(D) addresses a different path. After a rental agreement terminates, if the tenant stays with the landlord's agreement as a holdover or month-to-month tenant and the parties do not enter a new rental agreement, the old agreement generally continues to govern except for the rent amount described in the statute.
A new rent amount set out in written notice cannot take effect until the next rent due date that comes 30 days after the notice. That does not convert every Virginia rent increase into a 30-day rule; it is tied to the specific post-termination holdover/month-to-month situation described by the statute.
The 90-day renewal rule starts July 1, 2027 — not in 2026
Virginia has already enacted a future version of § 55.1-1204(K). Beginning July 1, 2027, the qualifying larger-landlord renewal-increase notice changes from at least 60 days to at least 90 days before the end of the rental term.
The future version also requires the notice to include a deadline for the tenant to say whether the lease will be renewed, and that deadline cannot be sooner than 30 days after delivery of the rent-increase notice. A 2026 guide that labels 90 days as the current Virginia renewal rule is using the future effective version too early.
Fixed-term lease terms still control the rent during the term
Virginia rental agreements may contain lawful terms governing rent, the lease term, automatic renewal and notice. Before changing rent, review the current lease to determine whether the proposed increase is for a later renewal term, a post-expiration holdover tenancy, or another arrangement with different statutory or contractual requirements.
Do not use a renewal-notice provision as authority to change rent in the middle of a fixed term when the agreement does not permit that change. The lease, tenancy status and effective date should be reviewed together with the current Virginia Code.
What landlords and tenants should document
Keep the signed lease and renewal provisions, the landlord's unit-count information relevant to § 55.1-1204(K), the term end date, the date written notice was delivered, the proposed rent and effective date, the normal rent due date, and any new agreement offered after expiration.
Those records help distinguish the 60-day renewal path from the 30-day holdover/month-to-month path and prevent a future 2027 rule from being applied to a 2026 notice.
Use Max Rental Tools with Virginia's review gate
Use the Virginia state guide and calculator to measure the proposed percentage change and organize the tenancy facts. Max Rental Tools intentionally does not convert Virginia into one automated notice-day answer because the current statutes require context that a single number would hide.
Prepare a Rent Increase Notice or Lease Renewal Notice only after confirming which statutory path applies, the lease terms, the landlord's unit count where relevant, and the effective version of Virginia law. The official Virginia Code links below are the controlling sources for the timing described here.
Common questions
Is Virginia rent increase notice 30, 60 or 90 days?
It depends on the tenancy. In 2026, § 55.1-1204(K) uses at least 60 days for specified larger landlords and qualifying renewal situations. Section 55.1-1253(D) separately uses a 30-day timing rule for a defined holdover/month-to-month situation. The qualifying § 55.1-1204(K) renewal rule changes to 90 days on July 1, 2027.
When does Virginia's 60-day rent-increase notice rule apply?
Through June 30, 2027, it applies under § 55.1-1204(K) to the specified landlords owning more than four rental dwelling units, or more than a 10% interest in more than four units, when the tenant has a renewal option or an automatic-renewal provision and the increase is for the subsequent term.
Does Virginia require 90 days' notice for a rent increase in 2026?
Not under the current § 55.1-1204(K) renewal rule. The enacted 90-day version becomes effective July 1, 2027. Other tenancy-specific rules can still apply.
When does the 30-day Virginia rule apply?
Section 55.1-1253(D) uses the 30-day timing in a defined situation after a rental agreement ends, when the tenant remains with the landlord's agreement as a holdover or month-to-month tenant and no new rental agreement is entered.
Does Virginia have one universal rent-increase notice period?
No. The current statutory timing depends on facts such as whether the rent change is tied to a qualifying renewal, a post-termination holdover/month-to-month tenancy, the landlord's unit count, the lease language and the effective date of the law.
Official sources
Virginia Code — § 55.1-1204 current rental-agreement and renewal provisionsVirginia Code — § 55.1-1253 periodic tenancy and holdover remediesVirginia Code 2026 Updates — § 55.1-1204 future July 1, 2027 versionContinue your check
Use the state directory for current jurisdiction-specific rules, calculate the proposed increase, then prepare the appropriate rental document only after the legal-rule checks are complete.