Tenant breaking lease.

[Michael Gibson]

I had a tenant contact me and tell me that they need a bigger place to live in and ask if I would write a letter of recommendation for them to move. They signed a 12 month lease and have only been there for 4 months. I told them if they we're breaking the lease they signed I couldn't write them a letter. They then start threatening legal action if I don't give them the security deposit and write them a letter of recommendation to move into another place. My question is do I have to give them the security deposit back? They owe 8 more months on the lease. I'm assuming the deposit is for damages to the property only. But what do I do about the weeks or months of rent I may lose if anything ? I live in WV. This is my first year as a landlord. They have also been late on rent 3 out of 4 months.