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Bill

SB 1356

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Saddam Salim and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia requires landlords to accept rent via at least one fee-free payment method to reduce tenant housing costs and improve payment accessibility.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0627)
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Bill Summary · SB 1356

Legislative bill overview

SB 1356 amends Virginia's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish requirements for how landlords must accept rental payments from tenants. The bill mandates that landlords provide tenants with at least one rent payment method that does not impose additional fees on the tenant, addressing concerns about payment accessibility and affordability.

Why is this important

Rental payment practices directly affect housing affordability for millions of tenants. When landlords only accept payment methods with associated fees (like credit cards or third-party platforms), these costs can add up significantly over a year, effectively raising housing costs. This bill aims to protect tenant finances by ensuring at least one fee-free payment option, potentially benefiting lower-income renters most substantially.

Potential points of contention

  • Landlord compliance costs: Landlords may incur expenses setting up fee-free payment infrastructure, particularly for smaller property owners or those currently using third-party payment platforms that generate revenue through fees
  • Defining "additional fees": Ambiguity about what constitutes an "additional fee" (e.g., whether ACH transfers, checks, or in-person payments qualify; whether late fees are separate) could lead to disputes and legal challenges
  • Implementation burden: Smaller landlords and property management companies may lack technical resources to establish compliant payment systems, potentially creating unequal enforcement across the state

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

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