West Virginia Rental Application
The West Virginia Rental Application provides those that own or manage property in the state with a means of finding the most credible renter for a residential property. Once a person shows interest in signing a lease for a rental, the landlord will give or send them the blank form. Once the applicant completes the form in full, the landlord will go through the form looking for any warning signs, things that warrant a denial, call listed references, and run credit, criminal, and other background checks.
If the landlord approves of the applicant, they will request the tenant(s) pay a security deposit, which can be any amount according to West Virginia Code Article 6 “Landlord and Tenant”.
State Laws
Security Deposits (§§ 37-6A-1 to 37-6A-6): Landlords and property managers are free to request any amount for security deposits. At the end of the lease, the landlord has forty-five (45) days to return the security deposit if the property is re-rented. If vacant, the landlord has sixty (60) days to return the security deposit.
Maximum Rental Application: No limit on fees for background checks and other screening efforts. Fees are non-refundable unless the landlord or property manager decides differently.
Landlord-Tenant Guide: Renters’ Rights: A Guide To Landlord-Tenant Law in West Virginia