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Note: GUIDELINES typically apply
leases of 1 year or more. Each state may have different security
deposit laws. Generally "Short Term" agreements do not apply. Short Term may
be defined as Seasonal Rental (Winter, Summer, etc), student housing
(semester), dormitories, hotels or rooming houses.
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Before you
move in, do a walk through (pictures) and note any damages and condition of the
rental. The move-in list should be referred to when you leave.
When you leave the apartment (or other rental) do a
walk through with the owner or property manager. Take
pictures
and both agree to any damages or to the condition of the rental.
See
our Normal
Wear Tear Guide. |
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GET BACK YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT |
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Here
are some tips to get back your Security Deposit. Read our free guide on TAKING
STEPS TO GET BACK YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT. |
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RETURN
THE KEYS
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GIVE
FORWARDING ADDRESS
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CLEAN
THE UNIT
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Use common sense - leave
the rental at least "broom clean". If you do not have time to clean,
hire a cleaning service. Ask the landlord if they have a cleaning service that
they use or suggest. |
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If you are
having trouble getting your security deposit back, first look for your state
information. There may be local legal aid service available.
If not, use our
free lawyer search. |
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Search RentLaw.com
and Find More... |
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Click
your state name for more security deposit information |
| Alabama |
No
statutory deadline |
| Alaska |
14
days if the tenant gives proper notice to terminate tenancy;
30 days if the tenant does not give proper notice |
| Arizona |
14
days |
| Arkansas |
30
days |
| California
|
The landlord can charge no more
than 2 months' rent for an unfurnished apartment as a security deposit, and 3 months for
a fully furnished unit. Within 21 days after you leave the
unit, the landlord must refund your full deposit, except for
limited deductions. |
| Colorado |
Colorado
law requires the landlord return the security deposit or an
itemized statement of the deductions and balance, if any, to
the tenant within 30 days after termination of the lease or
the surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs
last....
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| Connecticut |
30
days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding
address, whichever is later. The landlord may be responsible
for up to double the amount of the security deposit for
failing to return the deposit. |
| Delaware |
If
the landlord is not entitled to all or any portion of the
security deposit, the landlord shall remit the security
deposit within 20 days of the expiration or termination of the
rental agreement. Pet Deposit OK up to 1 month.
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| District
of Columbia |
45
days |
| Florida |
15
to 45 days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions |
| Georgia |
One
month |
| Hawaii |
14
days |
| Idaho |
21
days, or up to 30 days if landlord and tenant agree |
| Illinois
|
30-45
days depending on whether deductions were made. Also depends
on city (Chicago, Evanston etc).
Single condo units are exempt.
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| Indiana |
45
days |
| Iowa |
30
days |
| Kansas |
The
security deposit can be one month's rent for an unfurnished
apartment; 1 1/2 month's for furnished and an added 1/2
month's for pets. The landlord must return the deposit within
30 days or the remainder of the deposit and an itemized list
of deductions. |
| Kentucky |
30-60
days depending on whether tenant disputes deductions
Many landlords require a
deposit equal to one month's rent. The landlord must keep all tenant's
deposit money together in a separate account used only for that
purpose........ |
| Louisiana |
30
days - in Louisiana called the "Lessee's Deposit
Law," that says a landowner must return your deposit
within 30 days of the date you move out. ........ |
| Maine |
21
days (tenancy at will) or 30 days (written rental agreement) |
| Maryland |
30-45
days depending on whether tenant has been evicted or has
abandoned the premises |
| Massachusetts |
30
days |
| Michigan |
30
days |
| Minnesota |
Three
weeks after tenant leaves, and landlord receives mailing
address; five days if tenant must leave due to building
condemnation |
| Mississippi |
45
days |
| Missouri |
Landlord can only require a maximum two months' rent as a
security deposit. At the end of the lease,
the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit with an itemized list of damages
for which any portion of the deposit is kept...........
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| Montana |
30
days |
| Nebraska |
14
days |
| Nevada |
30
days |
| New
Hampshire |
30
days |
| New
Jersey |
30
days; five days in case of fire, flood, condemnation or
evacuation. Seasonal Rentals (under 125 days) not applicable. |
| New
Mexico |
30
days |
| New
York
|
Reasonable
time |
| North
Carolina
|
30
days |
| North
Dakota |
30
days |
| Ohio |
30
days |
| Oklahoma |
30
days |
| Oregon |
30
days |
| Pennsylvania
|
30
days |
| Rhode
Island |
20
days |
| South
Carolina |
30
days - Any deduction from the security/rental deposit must be
itemized by the landlord in a written notice to the tenant
together with the amount due, if any... |
| South
Dakota |
Two
weeks |
| Tennessee |
No
statutory deadline |
| Texas
|
30
days
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| Utah |
30
days, or within 15 days of receiving tenant's forwarding
address, whichever is later |
| Vermont |
14
days |
| Virginia |
30
days |
| Washington |
The
landlord has 14 days after a tenant moves out to return a
deposit, or give a written explanation of why it (or any part
of it) was not refunded..... |
| West
Virginia |
No
statutory deadline |
| Wisconsin |
No
Interest required on deposit and no maximum a landlord may
charge - except - see Madison Wisconsin.
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| Wyoming |
No
statutory deadline |
