Landlord Won't Make Repairs in West Virginia: What Can I Do?
This page covers what a West Virginia landlord must keep in working order, how to ask for repairs, and what records to keep. It also covers one risk to know about before you hold back rent.
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For residential property, a West Virginia landlord must hand over the home and the land around it fit to live in. This must be done at the start of the rental. The landlord must then keep it that way.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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For residential property, a West Virginia landlord must keep the leased property up to the health, safety, fire and housing codes that apply. The landlord does not have to do this if the tenant is at fault. The same goes if a family member or another person there with the tenant's consent is at fault.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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For residential property, a West Virginia landlord must make all repairs needed to keep the home fit to live in. The landlord does not have to make repairs that were needed mainly because the tenant did not use reasonable care. The same goes for a family member or another person there with the tenant's consent.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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For residential property, a West Virginia landlord must keep what the landlord supplies in good and safe working order. The duty covers anything the landlord must supply by agreement or by law. Heating and plumbing are examples.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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In a building with more than one home, a West Virginia landlord must keep common areas clean, safe and in repair. This covers common areas that the landlord controls and that tenants use. The law calls such a building a multiple housing unit.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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In a building with more than one home, a West Virginia landlord must provide suitable ways to remove ashes, garbage, rubbish and other waste. The landlord must maintain them. The law calls such a building a multiple housing unit.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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Some West Virginia homes get water and heat from utilities (water, electric, gas) through direct public connections. For those homes, the landlord must supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times. The landlord must supply reasonable heat from October 1 to the last day of April. This does not apply where the tenant controls the installation that makes the water or heat.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A West Virginia rental agreement may give the landlord a bigger duty than the repair law sets. If so, the part of the agreement with the bigger duty controls.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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West Virginia's repair law does not require a landlord to make repairs when the tenant is behind on rent.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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To ask for a repair, write down what is broken and when it started. Date the note and keep a copy. Send it to your landlord in a way you can prove, such as a text or email.
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Take dated photos or video of each problem before and after you ask for a repair. Keep your messages with the landlord. These records can help if you go to court.
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Holding back rent, or fixing a problem yourself and taking the cost out of the rent, is risky. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
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