West Virginia · WV · updated 2026
In West Virginia, a landlord must return a security deposit within 60 calendar days
Quick answer
A West Virginia landlord has 60 calendar days after the tenancy ends to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under West Virginia security deposit law, a West Virginia landlord has 60 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends. By statute, West Virginia sets no statutory cap on how much a landlord can charge. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 60 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- No statutory cap
- Interest on deposit
- Not required
Calculate your exact West Virginia deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a West Virginia landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (West Virginia requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
If noncompliance is willful or not in good faith, the tenant is entitled to judgment for the amount of any unreturned deposit plus damages equal to one and a half times the amount wrongfully withheld.
How to get your deposit back in West Virginia
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common West Virginia deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- West Virginia requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in West Virginia?
- In West Virginia, a landlord must return a security deposit within 60 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in West Virginia?
- West Virginia statute sets no maximum on the security deposit a landlord can charge.
- Can my West Virginia landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. West Virginia requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a West Virginia landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- No. West Virginia does not require the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my West Virginia landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- If noncompliance is willful or not in good faith, the tenant is entitled to judgment for the amount of any unreturned deposit plus damages equal to one and a half times the amount wrongfully withheld.
Landlord must return the deposit with itemized deductions within the shorter of 60 days after tenancy ends or 45 days after a new tenant occupies (plus 15 days if a contractor estimate is needed). No checklist mandate. Willful violation: deposit owed plus 1.5x the amount wrongfully withheld.