Before you leave
Take photos and videos of every room, appliance, floor, wall, fixture, and any existing issue.
Save the lease, deposit receipt, move-in records, repair messages, and any inspection or move-out instructions.
Give a clear forwarding address
West Virginia makes the tenant responsible for providing an accurate address.
Give your forwarding address in writing and keep proof. Email, text, portal message, or mailed letter can be useful if you can show what was sent and when.
Document possession return
Keep proof of when the tenancy ended and when you returned possession. That might include key-return photos, a receipt, a text confirmation, a move-out form, or a message from the landlord.
Track the deadline
Do not assume the deadline is always 60 days.
West Virginia uses the shorter of 60 days after termination or 45 days after a subsequent tenant occupies. If you later learn a new tenant moved in, save that fact.
Save every deposit response
Keep any refund, itemized deduction statement, contractor-extension notice, envelope, returned-mail record, email, portal message, or text from the landlord.
Important
This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice.