Skip to main content

Search ILRG

Find legal forms, law schools, and legal resources

Find My Orders
Forms
Profession
Academics
Research
About

Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate

Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate

Download the Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate for residential nonpayment situations. This Virginia-specific self-help product is ready for instant secure access and includes the three editable Word files listed below.

  • editable Word format
  • Attorney-reviewed notice materials
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee

What you receive for Virginia

This Virginia notice package helps document the unpaid rent, five-day pay-or-terminate period, service details, and records a landlord should keep before deciding whether an unlawful detainer filing is the next step.

Virginia 5-day rent notice

Built for Virginia § 55.1-1245(F) nonpayment situations, with fields for rent owed, tenant/property details, five-day deadline, and service record.

Editable self-help files

Download the editable Word files, customize the notice on your own device, and keep a completed or served copy for your records.

Notice period and service focus

Use the notice to document the rental issue, deadline, delivery details, and next-step record before any further landlord-tenant action.

Included notice documents

This product includes three editable Microsoft Word files: the 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate, Mailing / Delivery Cover Sheet, and #10 Mailing Envelope.

  • 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate Tenant-facing notice with landlord use notes, certificate / record of service, and record checklist Word
  • Mailing / Delivery Cover Sheet Companion cover for mailed or hand-delivered notices Word
  • #10 Mailing Envelope Pre-formatted envelope with return and recipient blocks Word

Self-help notice overview

Using a Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate

A written Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate helps document the landlord, tenant, premises, unpaid rent, service date, five-day deadline, and records to keep before any court filing.

Virginia law, lease terms, rental-assistance facts, public-housing or voucher requirements, federal-program overlays, and service rules can affect required content, timing, and next steps. Review the state-specific page information and completed notice carefully before serving it.

A notice is not a completed eviction judgment. If the tenant does not pay after proper notice, a landlord may still need to follow the Virginia unlawful detainer process before possession can change.

About this Virginia 5-Day Notice package

This page highlights the current downloadable Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate package, including the files included with this product. The state-specific guidance below explains notice timing, service, rental-assistance, and usage considerations before checkout.

Virginia notice requirements and usage notes

The complete notice form is available immediately after checkout. Use the state-specific guidance below to understand timing, service, and next-step considerations before you complete and serve the notice.

Get Complete Form — $9.99
Last reviewed June 14, 2026

ILRG editorial team reviewed this page against the sources linked here.

Primary sources

Primary sources are linked for self-help research. Confirm current state, local, and subsidized-housing requirements before serving a notice.

Quick answer

Use this Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate when a residential tenant has not paid rent and you need the written pay-or-terminate notice required by Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F) before filing an unlawful detainer for possession.

Notice type 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate
Main use Non-payment of rent
Included materials Notice, mailing/delivery cover sheet, and #10 envelope (all editable Word)
Key point The notice must state the nonpayment and the landlord’s intent to terminate if rent is not paid within five days

Before you use this notice

  • Confirm the unpaid rent amount and the date rent became due.
  • State the amount owed and that the landlord will terminate the rental agreement if it is not paid within five days.
  • Count all five days, including weekends and holidays; if the last day is a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
  • Serve the notice at the tenant’s last known place of residence; use email only if the rental agreement allows it and keep proof of delivery.
  • If the tenant receives rental assistance or the property is public housing, include any required legal-aid or recertification notice language.
  • Keep a record of how and when the notice was served; a notice is not an eviction order.

Virginia’s 5-day nonpayment notice

Va. Code § 55.1-1245(F) lets a landlord serve written notice when rent is unpaid. If the tenant does not pay within five days after service, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement and seek possession.

In a returned-check or rejected-payment situation, the tenant must then pay by cash, cashier’s check, certified check, or a completed electronic funds transfer.

What to verify before serving

  • The unpaid rent amount and due date are accurate.
  • The service method fits Va. Code § 55.1-1202.
  • Subsidized-housing or voucher legal-aid statements are included where required.
  • Proof of service is retained.

What happens after service

If the tenant pays the full rent within five days, the landlord generally may not proceed on that notice. If the tenant does not pay or move out, the landlord may file an unlawful detainer in General District Court; only a court judgment and sheriff-executed writ can remove a tenant.

State-specific caution

Virginia notice rules include subsidized-housing and public-housing requirements, and possible CARES Act or federal-program overlays. Do not overstate posting or notarized-affidavit requirements unless counsel confirms they apply to the specific notice and service method.

Ready to download the Virginia notice? The complete notice packet is available immediately after secure checkout.

Get Complete Form — $9.99

100% satisfaction guarantee

If you are not satisfied with your PublicLegal form purchase, contact support for help. We keep the purchase path simple: secure checkout, immediate access, and no subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Notices to Pay Rent or Terminate

Yes. This product is the Virginia 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate page, and the downloadable files shown on this page are Virginia-specific.

This Virginia product includes three editable Microsoft Word files: the 5-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Terminate (with landlord use notes, a certificate / record of service, and a record checklist), a Mailing / Delivery Cover Sheet, and a #10 Mailing Envelope.

Yes. All three files are editable Microsoft Word documents. Fill in and customize the notice on your own device before serving it, and keep a copy of exactly what you served. Virginia notice timing, rental-assistance notices, and service rules can vary by tenancy and lease terms, so review the completed notice carefully before serving it.

This notice is commonly used for Virginia residential nonpayment situations before a landlord decides whether to file an unlawful detainer for possession. Public housing, voucher, rental-assistance, subsidized-housing, federal-program, and lease facts can affect required content and timing.

No. A notice is typically an early step before any court filing. If the tenant does not pay after proper notice, the landlord may still need to follow the Virginia unlawful detainer process. Only a court judgment and sheriff-executed writ can actually remove a tenant.

No. ILRG provides self-help legal forms and information, not legal advice. You are responsible for reviewing the completed notice, lease terms, state law, local rules, rental-assistance requirements, and court requirements before serving or relying on it.

Download Virginia Notice to Vacate / Quit Form — $9.99