W. Va. Code §§ 37-6-1 to 37-6-31 § 37-6-4
Attornment to stranger void.
Operative Text
The attornment of a tenant to any stranger shall be void, unless it be with the consent of the landlord of such tenant, or pursuant to, or in consequence of, the judgment, order, or decree of a court.
West Virginia Code § 37-6-4 addresses a legal act called 'attornment,' which is when a tenant formally acknowledges a new party as their landlord. Under this provision, any such acknowledgment made to a third party ('stranger') is legally void and without effect unless the original landlord has consented to it, or a court has ordered or decreed it. This rule protects the stability of the landlord-tenant relationship by preventing unauthorized transfers of that relationship.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under West Virginia Code § 37-6-4, a compliant property owner or manager ensures that any change in the landlord-tenant relationship involving a new party is either expressly consented to by the current landlord or established through a court judgment or order. Operators who acquire rental properties through purchase or other transfers generally take steps to ensure that any tenant acknowledgment of the new ownership is properly documented and legally grounded. Maintaining clear records of consent or court proceedings helps establish the legitimacy of any new landlord-tenant arrangement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
West Virginia Code § 37-6-4 means that a tenant cannot be legally bound to recognize a new 'landlord' simply because a third party claims authority over the tenancy — such a claim is void unless the original landlord consented or a court ordered the change. Tenants who are approached by an unfamiliar party claiming to be their new landlord may have grounds to question that party's authority under this provision. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service can help clarify whether any such transfer of the landlord role was made in compliance with § 37-6-4.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation