West Virginia notice periods
A West Virginia landlord must give 30 days’ written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the tenant must give the same. There is no separate statutory notice period for rent increases; the month-to-month termination notice is the practical minimum. For nonpayment, no statutory pay-or-quit period applies; the landlord may proceed after rent is due and unpaid, subject to the lease.
The West Virginia rules in detail
A periodic tenancy of less than a year may be terminated by either party with written notice of one full period before the end of a period (one month for month-to-month); year-to-year requires three months
No statute governs rent-increase notice; in practice the one-period (30-day) notice applies
No statutory pay-or-quit period. The landlord may proceed under the lease and court rules once rent is unpaid.
Serving the notice
- Notice must be in writing. Text messages and emails count only where the lease or statute allows electronic notice.
- The clock starts when the notice is delivered, not when it is written. Mailed notices usually add days; check the statute’s service rules.
- Termination notices generally take effect at the end of a rental period. Served mid-month, a 30-day notice ends the tenancy at the end of the next full month.
- A fixed-term lease ends on its own date; these periods apply to month-to-month tenancies and to tenancies that continued after a lease expired.
Related West Virginia rules
- Late fees: No statutory cap or grace period for residential late fees in West Virginia; the lease controls. Late fee calculator.
- Security deposit: No statutory limit; returned Deposit and written itemization returned within the 'notice period': 60 days after termination of the tenancy or 45 days after a new tenant occupies the unit, whichever is shorter; 15 additional days if damages exceed the deposit and a third-party contractor is needed (landlord must notify within the notice period). Deposit rules.
- All rules on one page: West Virginia landlord and tenant law.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out in West Virginia?
30 days’ written notice for a month-to-month tenancy. A periodic tenancy of less than a year may be terminated by either party with written notice of one full period before the end of a period (one month for month-to-month); year-to-year requires three months
How much notice does a tenant have to give in West Virginia?
30 days’ written notice on a month-to-month tenancy. A fixed-term lease ends on its own date unless it says otherwise.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in West Virginia?
West Virginia has no specific statute. No statute governs rent-increase notice; in practice the one-period (30-day) notice applies
How long is a pay-or-quit notice in West Virginia?
No statutory notice period for nonpayment; check the lease and local court rules.
Does the notice have to end on the last day of the month?
In most states, yes: a termination notice on a periodic tenancy takes effect at the end of a rental period that is at least the required number of days after service. Serving on the 15th with a 30-day requirement typically ends the tenancy at the end of the following month, not 30 days later. The calculator shows both dates.