Security deposit return deadline in West Virginia
A West Virginia landlord has 60 days after the tenancy ends to return a security deposit, or 45 days after a new tenant moves in if that comes first.
- Deadline
- 60 days (or 45 after a new tenant moves in, whichever is shorter)
- What the landlord must send
- The landlord must deliver the balance with a written itemization of damages or other charges.
- If the landlord gets it wrong
- The tenant can recover the unreturned deposit plus damages of 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld.
If damage exceeds the deposit and needs a contractor, the landlord gets 15 extra days to itemize after giving notice.
The law
W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1, 37-6A-2, 37-6A-5. Read the statute.
Checked against the statute in October 2026. Laws change, so confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
What to do next
If the deadline has passed, or the landlord kept money without a proper list, put your request in writing. Ask for the deposit back by a specific date, and keep a copy. The free first letter in the Deposit Demand Letters kit does this for West Virginia, and the deadline calculator works out your exact date from your move-out day.
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
General information about West Virginia law, not legal advice, and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Deposit Demand Letters is a self-help template kit from Kits For That.