Virginia · VA · updated 2026
In Virginia, a landlord must return a security deposit within 45 calendar days
Quick answer
A Virginia landlord has 45 calendar days after the tenancy ends or you move out, whichever is last to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under Virginia security deposit law, a Virginia landlord has 45 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends or you move out, whichever is last. By statute, the deposit is capped at 2 months' rent. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 45 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends or you move out, whichever is last
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Required of the landlord
- Maximum deposit
- 2 months' rent
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact Virginia deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a Virginia landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (Virginia requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
If the landlord willfully fails to comply, the court shall order return of the deposit with actual damages and reasonable attorney fees, unless the tenant owes rent, in which case an amount equal to the deposit is credited against rent due.
How to get your deposit back in Virginia
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common Virginia deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- Virginia requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Virginia?
- In Virginia, a landlord must return a security deposit within 45 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Virginia?
- Virginia caps the security deposit at 2 months' rent.
- Can my Virginia landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Virginia requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Virginia landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. Virginia does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Virginia landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- If the landlord willfully fails to comply, the court shall order return of the deposit with actual damages and reasonable attorney fees, unless the tenant owes rent, in which case an amount equal to the deposit is credited against rent due.
Landlord must give an itemized deduction statement and return the deposit within 45 days after the tenancy ends or the tenant vacates, whichever is later. Deposit capped at 2 months' rent. A move-in report of existing damage is required within 5 days of occupancy (§ 55.1-1214).