Landlord / Tenant Law
Security Deposit (Tenancy)
A refundable amount a tenant pays the landlord at the start of a tenancy, to cover potential unpaid rent or damage to the property.
Security deposits are meant to protect the landlord against default or damage, and are refundable at the end of the tenancy after adjusting any legitimate deductions — disputes over unreasonable deductions or delayed refunds are among the most common tenancy conflicts.
Some state tenancy laws now cap the maximum deposit a landlord can demand, relative to the monthly rent.
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