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Bill

SB 349

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; pre-tenancy fees.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Schuyler VanValkenburg

SB 349 regulates pre-tenancy fees landlords charge renters by establishing disclosure and limitation standards to reduce housing affordability barriers.

Senate committee offered
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 349

Legislative bill overview

SB 349 modifies Virginia's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to regulate pre-tenancy fees that landlords can charge prospective tenants before lease signing. The bill likely establishes limits, disclosure requirements, or refundability standards for application fees, background check fees, and other upfront charges. This addresses concerns that landlords currently charge excessive non-refundable fees without clear restrictions.

Why is this important

Pre-tenancy fees represent a significant financial barrier for renters, particularly low-income applicants who may pay hundreds of dollars across multiple applications. Unregulated fees can compound housing affordability challenges and create situations where applicants lose money even when denied housing through no fault of their own. Clarifying these practices affects rental market accessibility across Virginia.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost pass-through concerns: Landlords argue fee restrictions force them to raise rents or reduce services to cover administrative costs; tenant advocates counter that current fees exceed actual processing expenses
  • Refundability standards: Disagreement over which fees should be refundable (application fees vs. background check fees) and under what circumstances
  • Compliance burden: Small landlords may face administrative complexity and compliance costs if requirements are extensive, potentially reducing rental supply in tight markets

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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