W. Va. Code §§ 37-15-1 to 37-15-10 § 37-15-3
Written agreement required.
Operative Text
(a) The rental and occupancy of a factory-built home site shall be governed by a written agreement which shall be dated and signed by all parties thereto prior to commencement of tenancy. A copy of the signed and dated written agreement and a copy of this article shall be given by the landlord to the tenant within seven days after the tenant signs the written agreement. (b) The written agreement, in addition to the provisions otherwise required by law to be included, shall contain: (1) The terms of the tenancy and the rent therefor; (2) The rules and regulations of the factory-built home rental community. A copy of the text of the rules and regulations attached as an exhibit satisfies this requirement; (3) The language of the provisions of this article. A copy of the text of this article attached as an exhibit satisfies this requirement; (4) A description of the physical improvements and maintenance to be provided by the tenant and the landlord during the tenancy; and (5) A provision listing those services which will be provided at the time the rental agreement is executed and will continue to be offered for the term of tenancy and the fees, if any, to be charged for those services. (c) The written agreement for a factory-built home site on which is placed a factory-built home that is comprised of one section, other than a camping or travel trailer, may not allow for the termination of the tenancy by the landlord during the first twelve months that the factory-built home is placed on the site except for good cause. The written agreement for a factory-built home site upon which is placed a factory-built home that is comprised of more than one section may not allow for the termination of the tenancy by the landlord during the first five years the factory-built home is placed on the site except for good cause. (d) The written agreement may not contain: (1) Any provisions contrary to the provisions of this article and shall not contain a provision prohibiting the tenant who owns his or her factory-built home from selling his or her factory-built home; (2) Any provision that requires the tenant to pay any recurring charges except fixed rent, utility charges or reasonable incidental charges for services or facilities supplied by the landlord; or (3) Any provision by which the tenant waives his or her rights under the provisions of this article. (e) When any person possesses a security interest in the factory-built home, the written agreement or rental application shall contain the name and address of any secured parties. The written agreement shall require the tenant to notify the landlord within ten days of any new security interest, change of existing security interest or settlement or release of the security interest. (f) When a factory-built home owner sells a factory-built home, the new owner shall enter into a written agreement if the factory-built home continues to occupy the site: Provided, That the new owner meets the standards and restrictions contained in the prior rental agreement.
West Virginia Code § 37-15-3 requires that any rental of a factory-built home site be governed by a written agreement signed and dated by all parties before the tenancy begins. The agreement must include specific items such as tenancy terms, community rules, a description of maintenance responsibilities, and a list of services to be provided, while prohibiting clauses that waive tenant rights or impose unauthorized recurring charges. The law also establishes minimum periods during which a landlord may not terminate a tenancy without good cause — twelve months for single-section homes and five years for multi-section homes — and sets rules for what happens when a home is sold while still occupying the site.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 37-15-3, operators of factory-built home rental communities generally ensure that a fully executed written agreement — covering rent terms, community rules, maintenance responsibilities, and a list of ongoing services — is in place before any tenant takes occupancy. A compliant operator delivers a signed copy of the agreement along with a copy of the full article to the tenant within seven days of the tenant's signature. Operators also take care that agreements do not include provisions waiving tenant rights, imposing unauthorized recurring charges, or allowing early termination without good cause during the applicable protection period for the home type.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 37-15-3 gives tenants in factory-built home communities the right to receive a written agreement containing clear terms about rent, rules, services, and maintenance responsibilities before their tenancy begins, along with a copy of the governing article within seven days. Tenants of single-section homes are protected from landlord-initiated termination without good cause for the first twelve months, while tenants of multi-section homes have that protection for the first five years. Tenants who believe their agreement is missing required provisions, contains prohibited clauses, or that their landlord has not complied with this section may consider raising those issues as a defense in any eviction proceeding, filing a complaint with a relevant state or local authority, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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