W. Va. Code §§ 37-6A-1 to 37-6A-6 § 37-6A-3
Maintenance of records by landlord.
Operative Text
The landlord shall: (1) Maintain and itemize records for each tenant of all deductions from security deposits provided under this article which the landlord has made by reason of a tenant's noncompliance with the rental agreement for one year after the termination of the tenancy; and (2) Either permit a tenant or his or her authorized agent or attorney to inspect the tenant's records of deductions at any time during normal business hours within seventy-two hours of a written request, or at the landlord's option, provide a tenant or his or her authorized agent or attorney a copy of the tenant's record of deductions during normal business hours within seventy-two hours of a written request.
West Virginia Code § 37-6A-3 requires landlords to keep itemized records of any security deposit deductions made due to a tenant's failure to comply with a rental agreement, and to retain those records for one year after the tenancy ends. Tenants or their representatives have the right to access those records, either by inspection or by receiving a copy, within 72 hours of submitting a written request during normal business hours. This provision establishes both a recordkeeping obligation and an access right tied to the security deposit deduction process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 37-6A-3, compliant operators maintain a separate, itemized deduction record for each tenant and keep it on file for at least one year after the tenancy concludes. When a written request arrives from a tenant or their authorized representative, a well-organized operator responds within 72 hours during normal business hours—either by making the records available for inspection or by providing a copy. Keeping these records organized and readily accessible helps demonstrate compliance with West Virginia's security deposit recordkeeping requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
West Virginia Code § 37-6A-3 gives tenants the right to review or receive a copy of the itemized deduction records a landlord has kept regarding their security deposit, simply by submitting a written request. After that written request is made, the landlord has 72 hours during normal business hours to fulfill it, either through inspection access or by providing a copy. If a landlord fails to comply with this provision, tenants may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing other sections of Chapter 37, Article 6A to understand what remedies may be available.
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.
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