Let’s talk about some recent changes to Virginia law that affect lease provisions.

House bill 352 and SB 213 amend the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) by altering the language it contains regarding early termination of leases by military personnel. These changes resolved conflicts between Virginia and federal law, and because the bills contain an emergency clause, they became law as soon as the governor signed them.

The new bills state that a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard, may terminate a rental agreement upon receiving either permanent change of station orders or temporary duty orders lasting longer than three months. Previously, the new duty assignment had to be at least 35 miles from the servicemember’s rental unit, but this distance requirement has been removed.

HB 352 and SB 213 add an additional justification for a servicemember breaking their lease early. A servicemember may now terminate a rental agreement if they receive a stop movement order in response to an emergency that is effective for either an indefinite period or a defined period lasting at least 30 days. The emergency must also prevent the servicemember from living in their rental unit.

Communication is always key between the tenant, landlord and or property manager to create a win-win situation for all parties.  Mo Wilson is a retired USMC who fought in Vietnam so we are very aware of our service members and how they are called for duty in an ever changing world.

The City of Fairfax, colloquially known as Fairfax City, Downtown Fairfax, Old Town Fairfax, Fairfax Courthouse, or simply Fairfax, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 22,565, which had risen to an estimated 24,019 as of 2019. Fairfax is 18 miles from Washington D.C. without traffic it is a short 29 minute drive. Of course, traffic is going to make a big difference so make sure you check that before leaving.

Located within Fairfax County which is home to hospitals that rank as best in the region by US News & World Reports. With 116 million square feet of space (and growing), Fairfax County has the second largest suburban office market in the United States and the largest in the Washington, DC area. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., Fairfax County places you in the heart of the many sites and attractions the Capital Region has to offer. You’ll discover a whole new world of wonderful places to explore – from incredible historic sites to the very best shopping around.

Key Information:

• Fairfax County Public Schools rank in the top ten largest school systems in the United States, is the largest in Virginia, and continually tops US News & World Reports’ list of Top Schools in America.
• Fairfax County is home to hospitals that rank as best in the region by US News & World Reports.
• With 116 million square feet of space (and growing), Fairfax County has the second largest suburban office market in the United States and the largest in the Washington, DC area.
• Fairfax County is home to 11 Fortune 500 company headquarters, as of 2020.
• Fairfax County has the largest concentration of technology jobs of any major US market.
• Fairfax County is also home to some of the top emergency responders on international crisis teams in the country, most notably Virginia Task Force 1, VATF-1.
• Fairfax County continually ranks in the Top 5 of Forbes‘ list of wealthiest counties in America.
• Fairfax County offers more attractions than any other area in Northern Virginia and has more than 19,000 hotel rooms.
• Fairfax County is surrounded by three major airports, Washington Dulles International to the west, Ronald Reagan National Airport to the east, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport just northeast.

The Fairfax housing market is very competitive. Homes in Fairfax receive 3 offers on average and sell in around 21 days. The average sale price of a home in Fairfax was $573K in 2020, up 9.1% since 2019.