[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-278099-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-278099-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","residential-security-deposit-quick-guide-key-legal-limits-and-return-requirements","Residential Security Deposit Quick Guide - Key Legal Limits and Return Requirements","","A residential security deposit guide explains what security deposits are used for and when landlords may withhold funds, including unpaid rent, property damage, agreement breaches, and failure to leave the premises clean. It summarizes the July 1, 2024 residential deposit limits: first month’s rent and up to one month deposit, plus a narrow exception for certain small-property owners. It also covers documentation requirements, including the Security Deposit Disclosure and Addendum form, tenant liability declarations, permitted handling of deposits held before July 1, 2024, and the 21-day written itemized return process after move-out.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/forms/","Forms",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/residential-security-deposit-quick-guide-key-legal-limits-and-return-requirements/278099/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/residential-security-deposit-quick-guide-key-legal-limits-and-return-requirements/278099.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Blitz","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-23","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What qualifies as a security deposit in residential rentals?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A security deposit is money a landlord collects to protect against unpaid rent, damage, agreement breaches, or the tenant not leaving the property clean. It is included even if labeled as a cleaning fee, pet deposit, last month’s rent, or other categories that serve the same protective purpose.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What are the legal limits on residential security deposits starting July 1, 2024?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Starting July 1, 2024, the landlord may collect the first month’s rent and up to one month security deposit. This applies whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What must a landlord do after the tenant vacates the property?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Within 21 days after move-out, the landlord must provide a written statement showing the security deposit received, the amount spent or expected to be spent with itemized expenditures, and the amount returned to the tenant.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},278099,1791243419,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,113,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":110,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":22,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":4},24464137899374,"https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","QUICK GUIDE  \nResidential Security Deposit  \nWhat is a security deposit?  \nA security deposit is a payment, fee or deposit that a landlord collects from a tenant at the beginning of a lease or rental to compensate the landlord if the tenant (i) does not pay rent,(ii) damages the property, (iii) breaches the agreement or (iv) does not leave the property clean. Typically, deductions from the security deposit are made after the tenant has vacated the property.  \nIs there a legal limit imposed on residential security deposits?  \nYes. Beginning July 1, 2024, the landlord is limited to collecting the first month’s rent and up to one month security deposit. This limit applies regardless of whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished.  \nIs there an exception to the one-month security deposit maximum?  \nYes. Where the landlord owns no more than two residential rental properties with not more than four dwelling units combined, then the landlord may collect the first month’s rent and up to two months as a security. This exception applies to natural persons including where the owner is a family trust or LLC. But it will not apply when the tenant is a service member.  \nHow can a property manager verify that the landlord qualifies for the exception?  \nBecause the exception is fairly technical, the form Security Deposit Disclosure and Addendum (C.A.R. Form SDDA) was developed. Added as an addendum to the lease, this form gives a complete description of when the exception applies. It will allow the owner to verify that they indeed qualify for the exception. Likewise, there is a signature line for the tenant to declare their miliary status.  \nWhat if the owner was holding more than one month security prior to July 1, 2024?  \nAs long as the security was collected or demanded prior to July 1, 2024, the landlord may continue to hold it.  \nMay a landlord collect a cleaning fee or pet deposit or other amount in addition to a security deposit?  \nRegardless of how the security deposit is labeled--cleaning fee, pet deposit, last month’s rent or something else--or how it is divided into different categories, if at all, money that is used by the landlord to protect from financial or other damage is all considered a security deposit and falls within the above one or two-month rent limits.  \nMay security deposit be made in multiple payments?  \nYes, if allowed by the landlord. If all payments are due before the commencement date of the lease or rental, but have not been paid, the landlord may have the right to terminate the agreement (C.A.R. form CLR, Cancellation of Lease or Rental) .  \nWhat happens to the security deposit after the tenancy has terminated?  \nWithin 21 days after the tenant vacates the property, the landlord is required to give the tenant a written statement identifying (i) the amount of security deposit received,(ii) the amount of security deposit spent, or anticipated will be spent, along with itemized statements for the expenditures, and (iii) the amount being returned to the tenant. A sample Security Deposit Return letter, found in the C.A.R. Sample Letters Library within zipForm®, may be used to document the application and return of a security deposit.","cbCaipUrCjsWLwWx","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipUrCjsWLwWx","pdf",62664,"English","# What is a security deposit?\n# Legal limits for residential security deposits\n## One-month limit from July 1, 2024\n## Exception for certain small-property owners\n# Verifying eligibility for the exception\n# Security held before July 1, 2024\n# Fees and pet deposits treated as security deposits\n# Multiple payments and possible lease termination\n# What happens after tenancy ends","[{\"question\":\"What qualifies as a security deposit in residential rentals?\",\"answer\":\"A security deposit is money a landlord collects to protect against unpaid rent, damage, agreement breaches, or the tenant not leaving the property clean. It is included even if labeled as a cleaning fee, pet deposit, last month’s rent, or other categories that serve the same protective purpose.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the legal limits on residential security deposits starting July 1, 2024?\",\"answer\":\"Starting July 1, 2024, the landlord may collect the first month’s rent and up to one month security deposit. This applies whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished.\"},{\"question\":\"What must a landlord do after the tenant vacates the property?\",\"answer\":\"Within 21 days after move-out, the landlord must provide a written statement showing the security deposit received, the amount spent or expected to be spent with itemized expenditures, and the amount returned to the tenant.\"}]","Residential Security Deposit Quick Guide - Key Legal Limits and Return Requirements | PDF",1789506978]