Walk It Through: The 21 Days
A California deposit, from the photographs to twice the security.
Signing day. The landlord asks for the first month's rent, a security deposit and a nonrefundable cleaning fee.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One deposit in one rental. The two month limit for small landlords, local rent ordinances, and how a court finds bad faith are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Initial inspectionAn inspection the tenant may ask for in writing, no earlier than two weeks before the tenancy ends, so there is a chance to fix what the landlord would otherwise deduct for.
- Itemized statementThe statement of the basis for and amount of any security kept, furnished no later than 21 calendar days after the tenant has vacated, with the rest returned.
- SecurityAny payment, fee, deposit or charge imposed at the beginning of a residential tenancy, including an advance payment of rent, whatever the landlord calls it.
- Small claimsThe court for claims up to $12,500 by a natural person, where no attorney takes part, with narrow exceptions.