Security deposit

Example

A tenant in California pays a $1,500 deposit and moves out on June 30, 2026. The landlord has 21 days, until July 21, to return it or send an itemized statement of deductions. If the landlord deducts $220 to replace a window the tenant broke and $95 for cleaning beyond normal wear, the tenant should get $1,185 back, with the list and receipts. Scuffed paint after three years is wear and tear, and cannot be charged.

In a lease it looks like…

Tenant has paid a security deposit of $1,500.00. Landlord may apply it to unpaid rent and to the cost of repairing damage caused by Tenant beyond normal wear and tear, and shall return the balance with an itemized statement as required by law.

By state

States set the maximum (from one month’s rent to three, or no limit at all), the return deadline (from 14 to 60 days), whether it must earn interest, and the penalty for keeping it wrongly.