Walk It Through: The Deposit That Did Not Come Back
A move out, a forwarding address, a silent landlord, an accounting, and small claims court.
A tenant moves out of an apartment after a long lease, cleans it, and returns the keys.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One deposit after a clean move out. A deposit larger than a month's rent, a pet deposit, unpaid utilities and a landlord who sold the building 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.
- Ordinary wear and tearThe use a home shows from ordinary living. A landlord may keep deposit money to restore the premises to their condition at the start of the tenancy, except for this.
- Security depositMoney held to secure a rental agreement, however the lease names it. It may not exceed one month's rent without special conditions and agreement.
- Small claimsA simpler court procedure for claims up to twelve thousand dollars, in which the plaintiff gives up a jury and an appeal.