# Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1208: Prohibited provisions in rental agreements > Virginia · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1208 ## Section - **Citation:** Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1208 - **Heading:** Prohibited provisions in rental agreements - **Jurisdiction:** Virginia - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Virginia Code / Title 55.1 / Subtitle III / Chapter 12 / Article 1 / Section 55.1-1208 ## Text A. A rental agreement shall not contain provisions that the tenant: 1. Agrees to waive or forgo rights or remedies under this chapter; 2. Agrees to waive or forgo rights or remedies pertaining to the 120-day conversion or rehabilitation notice required in the Virginia Condominium Act (§ 55.1-1900 et seq.) or the Virginia Real Estate Cooperative Act (§ 55.1-2100 et seq.) or under § 55.1-1410 ; 3. Authorizes any person to confess judgment on a claim arising out of the rental agreement; 4. Agrees to pay the landlord's attorney fees except as provided in this chapter; 5. Agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord to the tenant arising under law or to indemnify the landlord for that liability or any associated costs; 6. Agrees as a condition of tenancy in public housing to a prohibition or restriction of any lawful possession of a firearm within individual dwelling units unless required by federal law or regulation; 7. Agrees to the payment of a security deposit, insurance premiums for damage insurance, and insurance premiums for renter's insurance prior to the commencement of the tenancy that exceed the amount of two months' periodic rent; or 8. Agrees to waive remedies or rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq., prior to the occurrence of a dispute between landlord and tenant. Execution of leases shall not be contingent upon the execution of a waiver of rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; however, upon the occurrence of any dispute, the landlord and tenant may execute a waiver of such rights and remedies as to that dispute in order to facilitate a resolution. B. Any provision prohibited by subsection A that is included in a rental agreement is unenforceable. If a landlord brings an action to enforce any such provision, the tenant may recover actual damages sustained by him and reasonable attorney fees. C. Unless necessitated by the tenant's violation of a requirement of this chapter, no landlord shall require a tenant to pay any fee for the maintenance or repair of any dwelling unit. 1974, c. 680, § 55-248.9; 1977, c. 427; 1987, c. 473; 1991, c. 720; 2000, c. 760 ; 2002, c. 531 ; 2003, c. 905 ; 2016, c. 744 ; 2019, c. 712 ; 2020, c. 998 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 427 , 477 , 478 ; 2025, cc. 684 , 688 ; 2026, cc. 722 , 723 . ## Nearby sections - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1200 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1200.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1201 Applicability of chapter; local authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1201.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1202 (Effective until July 1, 2027) Notice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1202.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1203 (Effective until July 1, 2027) Application; deposit, fee, and additional information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1203.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1204 (Effective until July 1, 2027) Terms and conditions of rental agreement; payment of rent; copy of rental agreement for tenant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1204.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1204.1 Fee disclosure statement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1204.1.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1205 Prepaid rent; maintenance of escrow account](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1205.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1206 Landlord may obtain certain insurance for tenant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1206.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1207 Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1207.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1208 Prohibited provisions in rental agreements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1208.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1208.1 Rental agreements; child care](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1208.1.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1209 (Effective until July 1, 2027) Confidentiality of tenant records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1209.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1209.1 Employees of the landlord; rental dwelling unit keys and electronic key codes; policies and procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1209.1.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1210 Landlord and tenant remedies for abuse of access](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1210.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T55.1_SIII_C12_A1_S55.1-1208. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.