West Virginia security deposit law
What if my landlord never sent an itemized statement in West Virginia?
The short answer
That is a violation in West Virginia: W.V. Code § 37-6A-1 et seq. requires an itemized statement of deductions within 60 days, and it strips the landlord's justification for withholding.
In West Virginia, the itemized statement is not a courtesy, it is a legal requirement: W.V. Code § 37-6A-1 et seq. obligates the landlord to list every deduction within 60 days of move out.
Skipping it matters: without an itemization, the landlord has no documented justification for keeping your money, and a court has nothing to weigh on their side.
Your move is the same either way: a demand letter that cites the requirement, states that no itemization was received within the 60 days deadline, and demands the full deposit with the statutory exposure of up to 1.5x the deposit spelled out. Send it certified. A landlord who ignored the paperwork rarely wants to explain that to a judge in Magistrate Court.
The West Virginia rules at a glance. Governing statute: W.V. Code § 37-6A-1 et seq. Return deadline: 60 days. Statutory damages: up to 1.5x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Court for disputes: Magistrate Court, claims up to $10,000.
Looking for the rules beyond this state? My landlord kept my deposit and didn't give me an itemized statement
See what your landlord owes you under West Virginia law.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a West Virginia-specific demand letter that applies these rules to your case, ready in about ten minutes.