SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
SB118 SUB1 Senate Bill 118 History

OTHER VERSIONS  -  Introduced Version  |  Enrolled Version - Final Version  |  Engrossed Version  |     |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

Senate Bill No. 118

(By Senator Foster)

____________

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary;

reported January 18, 2012.]

____________

 

A BILL to amend and reenact §37-6-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to termination of a residential lease upon the death of a tenant; permitting termination of a residential lease in certain situations; requiring notice and payment of certain rent; prohibiting waiver; and providing date for applicability of provisions.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §37-6-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6. LANDLORD AND TENANT.

§37-6-11. Persons liable for rent; termination of lease upon death.

    (a) Rent may be recovered from the lessee, or other person owing it, or the heir, personal representative, devisee or assignee, who has succeeded to the lessee's estate in the premises. But no assignee shall be liable for rent which became due before his or her interest began. Nothing herein shall change or impair the liability of heirs, personal representatives, or devisees, for rent, to the extent and in the manner in which they are liable for other debts of the ancestor or testator; nor shall the mere merger of the reversion to which a rent is incident affect the liability for such rent.

    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, as provided in this section either a lessee who signed a lease with a now-deceased lessee, the heir, personal representative, devisee or assignee of the deceased lessee, or the landlord may terminate the lease prior to its expiration, upon the death of a lessee of a residential premises. To be effective, notice of the termination must be hand delivered or mailed by postage prepaid, first class United States mail, to the address of the other party. The date of notice is either the date the notice is hand delivered or the date a notice by mail is postmarked. The termination shall become effective on the last day of the calendar month that is two months after the date of notice.

    (c) The termination of a lease under this section does not relieve the lessee's estate from liability either for the payment of rent or other sums owed prior to or during the two month written notice period, or for the payment of amounts necessary to restore the premises to their condition at the commencement of the tenancy, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

    (d) An attempted waiver by a lessor, lessee or lessee's heir, personal representative, devisee or assignee, by contract or otherwise, of the right of termination provided by this section, and any lease provision or agreement requiring a longer notice period than that provided by this article, is void and unenforceable.

    (e) The provisions of this section apply to leases entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2012.

 


______________

 

    (NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for the termination of a residential rental lease upon the death of the lessee.


    Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.)

This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print