Housing (Renters)

HB 5155 would prohibit landlords in West Virginia from charging tenants convenience fees for rent payments, such as fees for using credit cards or online payment systems. Landlords would no longer be allowed to add these fees to the rent amount, requiring them to absorb payment processing costs themselves. The rule does not apply to landlords who accept payment methods without convenience fees, like cash or checks. This bill directly affects all residential landlords and tenants in West Virginia's rental housing market.

SB 659 prevents West Virginia municipalities from banning or overly restricting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary living spaces like converted garages or backyard cottages - on single-family residential properties. The bill bans local governments from requiring public hearings, imposing excessive fees ($250 max application fee), mandating matching exterior designs, or setting stricter size/height rules for ADUs than for primary homes. It also prohibits municipalities from requiring additional parking, restrictive covenants, or separate water/sewer systems for ADUs, though they may still regulate short-term rentals separately. This directly affects homeowners seeking to build or rent out ADUs without local bureaucratic hurdles.

HB 4928 prohibits counties and municipalities from taxing residential rental properties at higher rates than owner-occupied homes. It requires all property taxes on rental properties to match the rate for owner-occupied housing and bans additional taxes based on zoning. The bill directly affects landlords who own rental properties and aims to reduce their tax burden, potentially helping keep rents stable. It does not change sales or service taxes for rental businesses. The legislation focuses on changing property tax assessment rules, not on broader rent control or other housing policies.

HB 4432 establishes new tenant protections and landlord notice requirements for residents in factory-built home rental communities (including mobile homes, manufactured homes, modular homes, and house trailers). It defines "good cause" for eviction, requiring landlords to provide written notice before terminating tenancy for reasons like rent arrears or lease violations, and clarifies that tenants cannot be deemed to have abandoned their home due to catastrophic events like floods or tornadoes. The bill also defines key terms like "factory-built home rental community" and "good cause" to standardize protections. These changes directly affect tenants and landlords in multi-unit factory-built home communities across West Virginia.

HB 4726 requires West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources to prioritize housing applications for foster youth who have turned 18 and are transitioning out of foster care, specifically for those who do not qualify for existing transitional living services. The bill mandates that the department give priority to these young adults for government-assisted housing programs, such as HUD, to improve housing stability during their transition to independence. It directly affects foster youth aged 18 and older leaving the system without qualifying for transitional living placements under current law. This policy change focuses on concrete housing access, not broader outcomes or advocacy.