A West Virginia rental application is essential for landlords and property owners to screen applicants effectively and gather the necessary information before offering a lease agreement.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable.
- Fee Limits – No limits.
- Security Deposit – No set limit on security deposits landlord charges.
Application Fee
- No Limit: In West Virginia, a landlord can charge any application fee and doesn’t have to adhere to any limit. Property owners should charge a reasonable amount to cover the screening process cost and avoid charging prohibitive fees that would make it hard for someone to apply.
- Non-Refundable: The application fee is non-refundable. [1]
Fair Housing Protections
West Virginia landlords may not discriminate on the grounds of a tenant’s color, race, ancestry, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, disability, or blindness. [2] They cannot perform the following behaviors against a tenant because of these factors:
- Publish any advertisement that indicates a preference, discrimination, or limitation
- Be dishonest about a unit’s availability
- Induce someone to rent a unit
Landlords must not deny reasonable accommodations or modifications to tenants with disabilities. They must also not show discrimination toward tenants with assistance animals unless the animal causes significant damage or presents a direct threat.
Security Deposit Limits
- No Limit: Landlords are also allowed to ask for a security deposit, and there is no limit on that security deposit. Cities and counties may place their limitations on security deposits within their jurisdictions.
- Handling: The state doesn’t require landlords to keep the funds in a separate account.
- Returns: The landlord must refund the deposit within 60 days after the tenant leaves the premises or 45 days after a new renter moves in, whichever period is shorter. [3]
Pet Deposits
No laws govern pet deposits. A landlord may charge any amount they’d like.
Sample
