# Virginia: Landlord Won't Repair? Your Options | Who Pays the Repair?

> Virginia tenants can terminate the lease or seek court-ordered rent escrow if the landlord won't fix a problem, under Va. Code §§ 55.1-1234 and 55.1-1244.

**Who pays:** landlord

In Virginia, tenants can terminate the lease after a 21-day unremedied notice, or go to court to have rent held in escrow, under Va. Code §§ 55.1-1234 and 55.1-1244.

**Boundary:** In Virginia, a tenant can terminate the lease over a landlord's material noncompliance affecting health and safety by giving written notice with a 21-day cure period and a termination date at least 30 days out (Va. Code § 55.1-1234); alternatively, the tenant can go to court to have rent paid into escrow under § 55.1-1244.

## Sources
- [Va. Code § 55.1-1234: Noncompliance by landlord](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter13/section55.1-1234/) — "the tenant may serve a written notice on the landlord specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach and stating that the rental agreement will terminate upon a date not less than 30 days after receipt of the notice if such breach is not remedied in 21 days." (accessed 2026-09-13)
- [Va. Code § 55.1-1244: Tenant's assertion; rent escrow](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title55.1/chapter13/section55.1-1244/) — "The tenant may assert that there exists upon the leased premises a condition that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with provisions of law or that, if not promptly corrected, will constitute a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of occupants." (accessed 2026-09-13)

_Last verified 2026-09-16. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/virginia-tenant-remedy-landlord-wont-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._