Housing Laws

Here are the steps you will have to take in order to terminate your lease.

1. You must have one of the following:
   • a final protective order for family abuse; or
   • an order of conviction after the court has convicted the offender of family abuse, sexual abuse or any other criminal sexual assault (such as rape, sodomy and sexual battery) where you are the victim; and
2. You must give the landlord a written notice of termination to be effective on a date stated in the notice. The termination date indicated in the written notice must be at least 30 days after your next rent payment is due. You must also attach a copy of the protective order or of the order of conviction. Note: If you have an order of conviction, you can have the right to terminate your current lease when the conviction order is entered and one subsequent lease based upon the same conviction.¹

¹ Va. Code § 55.1-1236(A), (B)