Rent control rules in Charleston, WV — also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances — limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Charleston has no rent control ordinance and West Virginia has no statewide rent stabilization framework. Landlords may set initial rents and adjust at lease renewal subject only to lease terms and notice periods.
West Virginia Code Chapter 37 Article 6 governs landlord-tenant relations but does not impose rent caps or annual increase limits. Charleston has not adopted local rent control, and unlike states with home-rule preemption fights, the absence of rent control is more a matter of legislative inaction than express preemption. Landlords on month-to-month tenancies must provide at least one months written notice before rent changes, while fixed-term leases are subject only to their stated terms. Tenants concerned about affordability should rely on lease negotiation, federal voucher programs, or relocation rather than expecting price controls.
Because no rent cap exists, charging market or above-market rent is not a violation. Improper notice of rent increase may, however, render the increase unenforceable until proper notice is given.
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See how Charleston's rent control rules stack up against other locations.
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