Just cause eviction rules in Charleston, WV — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Charleston and West Virginia do not require just cause for eviction. Landlords may decline to renew at lease end with proper notice, or terminate month-to-month tenancies with one months written notice for any non-discriminatory reason.
WV Code Chapter 37 Article 6 sets the framework for residential tenancies. Periodic month-to-month tenancies may be ended by either party with at least one months written notice. For fixed-term leases, the landlord need not renew. The state and Charleston do not require landlords to specify a cause for non-renewal, and there is no relocation assistance ordinance. Landlords still cannot evict in retaliation for code complaints under Section 37-6-30, nor based on protected class status under federal Fair Housing Act and WV Human Rights Act. Self-help eviction (lockout, utility shutoff) is unlawful, requiring court-ordered process.
Self-help eviction or retaliatory non-renewal can result in tenant suit for damages, attorneys fees, and statutory penalties under WV Code 37-6-30 and federal fair-housing remedies.
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