West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law

Maximum deposit

West Virginia sets no limit on the amount of a security deposit (W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1 to -6). (W. Va. Code art. 37-6A (no amount limit))

Return deadline

Landlords must deliver the deposit minus deductions, with a written itemization, within 60 days after the tenancy ends or within 45 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever is shorter (W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1(7), 37-6A-2(a)). (W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2(a), (c), (g), W. Va. Code § 37-6A-1(7) ('notice period'))

Itemized deductions

Any deductions must be listed in a written itemization delivered with the deposit balance, and landlords must keep itemized deduction records for one year (W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-2(a), 37-6A-3). (W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2(a), W. Va. Code § 37-6A-3)

Interest on deposits

West Virginia law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits (W. Va. Code art. 37-6A is silent on interest). (W. Va. Code art. 37-6A (silent on interest))

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A landlord whose noncompliance is willful or not in good faith owes the unreturned deposit plus 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld, credited against any unpaid rent (W. Va. Code § 37-6A-5(a)). (W. Va. Code § 37-6A-5, W. Va. Code § 37-6A-4 (waiver clauses unenforceable; actual damages and attorney's fees if landlord sues to enforce one))

Late-fee limit

West Virginia sets no numeric cap on residential late fees, but only reasonable late charges specified in the rental agreement may be taken from the deposit (W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2(b)(1)). (W. Va. Code § 37-6A-2(b)(1) ('reasonable charges for late payment of rent specified in the rental agreement'), W. Va. Code art. 37-6 (no late-fee provision))

Grace period

West Virginia law sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged; timing follows the rental agreement (W. Va. Code arts. 37-6 and 37-6A contain no grace period). (W. Va. Code art. 37-6 (no grace-period provision), W. Va. Code art. 37-6A (no grace-period provision))

West Virginia has no statute on landlord entry or advance notice, so the lease governs; giving reasonable notice (commonly 24–48 hours) except in emergencies is the safe practice (W. Va. Code arts. 37-6 and 37-6A). (W. Va. Code art. 37-6 (Landlord and Tenant; no entry-notice provision), W. Va. Code art. 37-6A (no entry-notice provision))

To end a West Virginia month-to-month tenancy, either side must give written notice covering one full rental period that ends at the close of a period, which in practice means delivering it before the next rent due date (W. Va. Code § 37-6-5). (W. Va. Code § 37-6-5)

No West Virginia statute sets a rent-increase notice period; for a month-to-month tenancy, the conservative approach is written notice covering one full rental period, the same as ending the tenancy (W. Va. Code § 37-6-5). (W. Va. Code art. 37-6 (no rent-increase provision), W. Va. Code § 37-6-5)

West Virginia has no rent control law; the landlord-tenant articles of the Code (W. Va. Code ch. 37, arts. 6 and 6A) govern leases and deposits but do not limit rent amounts. (W. Va. Code § 37-6 (article), W. Va. Code § 37-6A (article))

West Virginia's landlord-tenant statutes require no state-specific move-in disclosures, but landlords of pre-1978 housing must give the federal lead-paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet before the lease is signed (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745). (40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F)

• Lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet (Housing built before 1978) — 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F

Unpaid rent

West Virginia law requires no notice to pay or quit before an eviction for unpaid rent; the landlord may file a verified petition for summary relief in magistrate or circuit court once the tenant is in arrears (W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1). (W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1, W. Va. Code § 37-6-19)

Lease violations

West Virginia law sets no notice-to-cure period for lease violations; the landlord may petition for summary relief for breach of a lease covenant or damage to the property without prior statutory notice (W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1(a)(3)). (W. Va. Code § 55-3A-1, W. Va. Code § 37-6-19)