Advocacy & Government Affairs
Rental housing policy is decided with or without you at the table. MLA makes sure owners have a seat — at city hall, the county commission, and the West Virginia Legislature.
A unified voice for rental housing providers
We advocate for fair, workable housing policy that protects property rights while supporting quality, affordable rental homes across Mercer County. When ordinances, taxes, or state law change, our members hear about it first — and have a champion.
- Monitor city, county & state legislation affecting rentals
- Provide testimony and comment on proposed rules
- Build relationships with elected officials
- Mobilize members through Calls to Action
Reasonable rental-registration & inspection rules
Supporting safety without duplicative fees or burdensome red tape on responsible owners.
Fair & predictable landlord-tenant law
Clear notice periods, enforceable leases, and a functional eviction process.
Property-tax fairness
Opposing disproportionate assessments and fees on rental housing.
Legislative tracker
Reference positions and issues monitored by MLA. Each row links to an official legal source and states whether the board has identified a specific pending measure. This is not a live bill-status feed.
| Issue | Level | MLA position | Official source | Board notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rental Compliance & Safety Code (Art. 1752) | City of Princeton | Member guidance | City rental-compliance information (PDF) | Board guidance: confirm registration, inspection, fee, and certificate requirements with Princeton Code Enforcement before relying on a summary. | In effect since 2018 |
| Notice required to terminate a tenancy | West Virginia | Clear, predictable rules | WV Code §37-6-5 | Board position: support clear notice rules and member education. The board has not published notes identifying a current amendment or bill. | No specific bill identified |
| Habitability & inspection standards | West Virginia / Mercer County | Safe, workable enforcement | WV Code §37-6-30 Mercer County ordinances |
Board position: support safe housing with clear correction procedures and locally workable enforcement. No countywide rental-inspection proposal has been identified. | Monitoring official sources |
| Short-term rental zoning | City of Bluefield | Monitoring | Bluefield Code of Ordinances City planning and zoning |
Board note: monitor general zoning and land-use requirements. No specific short-term-rental proposal or public-comment proceeding has been identified. | No specific proposal identified |
Last source review: August 5, 2026. Positions are set by the MLA Board and Government Affairs Committee. Official issuing bodies control the law and current status.
Join the Government Affairs Committee
Lend your experience, meet with officials, and help shape the rules that govern your properties. Open to all members in good standing.