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Security deposit rules every landlord should know
Limits, deadlines, itemized deductions, and the mistakes that turn a deposit into a lawsuit.
Security deposits
Security deposits are one of the most regulated parts of the landlord-tenant relationship, and the rules vary by state.
The universals
- Know your state's deposit cap and return deadline
- Provide an itemized statement for any deductions
- Keep move-in and move-out condition documentation
Skipping the itemized statement is the single most common mistake — and it's the one that turns a small deduction into a small-claims case.