Housing (Landlords)

HB 5334 protects residential tenants in West Virginia who face safety threats. It allows tenants to end leases without penalty if they fear imminent violence from domestic abuse, sexual conduct, stalking, or sexual extortion - without requiring a conviction. Landlords cannot block tenants from calling police or penalize them for doing so, and must keep all related details (like the perpetrator's name or relocation address) confidential. The bill also prohibits landlords from using such information in databases or against tenants in eviction cases, while requiring written notice with proof of the threat before lease termination.

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.