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 – § 37-6A-2 – No set limit on security deposits landlord charges.
State Law
For Tenants
Application Fee: In West Virginia, a landlord can charge no limit to the fee. 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.
Security Deposit: As per §37-6A-2, 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.
Pet Deposits: No laws govern pet deposits.
Additional Protected Classes
In West Virginia, landlords are also prohibited from asking whether the applicant is blind. If the landlord asks, they could be deemed discriminatory.
Furthermore, landlords must obtain the applicant’s consent before running a credit check or background check on the applicant. The Federal Credit Reporting Act governs this step.
Other Resources
- Sex Offender Registry: landlords can access the State Sex Offender Registry to be aware of any registered sex offenders applying as tenants.
- West Virginia Attorney General Renters’ Rights: The Attorney General provides information on renters’ rights, helping landlords and tenants understand their legal obligations and protections under state law.