Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in West Virginia (2026)
A typical West Virginia range, the local factors behind it, and the tools to price your own project.
Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.
What drives the cost in West Virginia
West Virginia deposits fall well below the national typical range, with Morgantown, Charleston, and the Eastern Panhandle near Washington the higher markets. State law sets no cap and is commonly cited as allowing return within 60 days of termination or shortly after a new tenant moves in, whichever is sooner, with an itemized statement and a penalty for bad faith, so confirm the current terms. Cold winters, humid summers, and older housing stock make moisture, paint, and plaster wear common and mostly owner costs.
Tips for West Virginia buyers
- If you re-rent quickly, the shorter deadline applies; do not assume you have the full 60 days.
- Morgantown's university turnover in August needs cleaners reserved well ahead.
- Basement moisture is an owner issue in most of the state; do not charge tenants for it.
Ranges are hedged planning estimates derived from a national typical range and a local index, not quotes. A typical single deposit on a market-rate residential rental is commonly around one month's rent, which puts most deposits somewhere in this range; actual amounts vary widely with local rents, unit size, pets, and state caps, and this is a working reference rather than a survey figure.
Price your project
- Deposit Deduction Depreciation Calculator: Estimates how much of a carpet, paint, blind, or appliance replacement a landlord can fairly deduct from a security deposit once the item's age and normal wear are taken into account.
- Security Deposit Refund Statement Calculator: Adds up the deposit held, any interest owed, and each itemized deduction to show the exact refund due to the tenant or the balance the tenant still owes.
- Late Deposit Return Penalty Exposure Calculator: Shows landlords how many days remain before a state return deadline and what missing it could cost when a statute allows forfeited deductions or multiplied damages.