VA HB329

Expands the definition of protected tenant activities to include making complaints to news or media outlets about lease violations and participating in lawful tenants' organization activities, in addition to existing protections for reporting code violations and testifying against landlords.

Explicitly lists prohibited retaliatory actions by landlords, including increasing rent or fees, selectively decreasing services, threatening or harassing tenants, bringing eviction actions, terminating leases, and refusing to renew tenancies for Housing Choice Voucher recipients.

Establishes specific defenses for landlords, such as when termination notices were given before the tenant engaged in protected activity, rent increases follow lease terms, service decreases or rule changes apply equally to all tenants, or there is good cause for non-renewal of voucher tenancies.

Applies to both the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§55.1-1258) and the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act (§55.1-1314), providing consistent protections across rental housing types.

Preserves tenant remedies including recovery of actual damages and the ability to assert retaliation as a defense in possession actions brought by landlords.