West Virginia Residential Lease Agreement | PDF
A West Virginia residential lease agreement is between a landlord and tenant for the use of a property for a fixed time period. During the term of the lease, the tenant is required to pay rent and utilities in accordance with the agreement. In exchange, the landlord will maintain the premises and complete any requested repairs.
It is recommended that the landlord screen a potential tenant before signing a lease with a rental application. Once the contract is authorized and the required deposits have been made by the tenant, keys, and entry to the property will be granted.
It is recommended for the tenant to fill out the landlord-tenant checklist upon moving in to make sure that any pre-existing damage to the property does not get blamed on them at the end of the term.
Table of Contents
- Standard Residential Lease Agreement
- Security Deposit Laws
- Required Disclosures
- Rent Grace Period
- Guides & Laws
Standard Residential Lease Agreement
Security Deposit Laws
Maximum Amount ($) – West Virginia law does not provide a Statewide security deposit limit.
Returning – The deposit must be returned within sixty (60) days of the expiration of the tenancy, or within forty-five (45) days of the subsequent tenancy, whichever occurs first (§ 37-6A-1(7)).
Required Disclosures
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure – If the rented space was constructed before 1978, the landlord must supply the tenant with the lead paint disclosure form to inform them of the possible existence of the hazardous substance.
Non-Refundable Fee Disclosure – Any non-refundable fees paid by the tenant to the landlord must be disclosed in writing and agreed to (§ 37-6A-1(14)).
Rent Grace Periods
West Virginia does not have a grace period for rent payments. However, landlords may retain a portion of a security deposit to cover reasonable late fees so long as this information is disclosed in the rental agreement (§ 37-6A-2(b)(1)).