Cal. Civ. Code § 55.1-1207
Effect of unsigned or undelivered rental agreement.
Operative Text
If the landlord does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to him by the tenant, acceptance of rent without reservation by the landlord gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the landlord. If the tenant does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement signed and delivered to him by the landlord, acceptance of possession or payment of rent without reservation gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant. If a rental agreement given effect pursuant to this section provides for a term longer than one year, it is effective for only one year.
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1207, a written rental agreement can become legally binding even if one party never formally signed or returned it. When a landlord accepts rent without reservation after receiving a tenant-signed agreement, the landlord is treated as having signed it. Conversely, when a tenant takes possession or pays rent without reservation after receiving a landlord-signed agreement, the tenant is treated as having signed it. Any agreement given effect this way is capped at a one-year term, regardless of what a longer written term may have stated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Va. Code § 55.1-1207 means that property owners and managers can inadvertently bind themselves to a rental agreement simply by accepting rent after receiving a tenant-signed copy, even without countersigning and returning it. Operators who follow consistent lease-execution procedures—signing, dating, and delivering their copy before collecting any rent—reduce the ambiguity this statute is designed to resolve. Keeping clear records of when agreements were signed and delivered by each party helps demonstrate the status of any tenancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Va. Code § 55.1-1207 provides tenants with a meaningful protection: if a landlord never formally signed or returned a written agreement but still accepted rent, that agreement may be treated as fully effective. Tenants who find themselves in this situation may be able to raise the statute as a basis for enforcing the terms of the written agreement, such as the stated rent amount or lease conditions. Tenant-rights organizations in Virginia can help residents understand how this provision may apply to their circumstances and what general options exist, such as raising it as a defense in an unlawful detainer proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.