How To Make Sure You Get Your Security Deposit Back When Moving

If you’re a renter, you’ve likely dealt with some of the difficulties of getting your full security deposit back. Unfortunately for renters, many landlords take a piece of your deposit regardless of the condition you’ve left your home or apartment in. In a lot of these cases, the full deposit could be returned if only the renters were more familiar with their lease or the laws in the state in which they live. If you follow the advice below, you’ll drastically increase your odds of getting your full deposit.

Familiarize Yourself With the Rental Agreement

If you don’t have a full understanding of your rental or lease agreement, you significantly decrease the odds of getting the full deposit. The terms can be different from one property to another so it’s worth your time to take a good look at the agreement. Likewise, the rights you have as a renter vary from state to state (see below) and having a full grasp of the terms can save you the time and headache of chasing down your deposit after you’ve moved.

Understand Your Renter’s Rights

As mentioned above, your rights as a renter are different in different states. If you’re unfamiliar with the laws of the state you’re living in or moving from, you can quickly get an overview of the laws by searching resources available online. One good one to use is this website, which has an interactive map that breaks down renter’s rights by state. An example of information that can be found there is whether or not a state allows for interest to be accrued on your deposit if it’s not returned in a timely fashion. The more you know about the process, the better prepared you’ll be when it’s time to prepare for moving.

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Fix Any Damages

Damages account for a significant portion of security deposits being withheld, so it’s important to make sure you address any physical damage, no matter how small. Even small holes left from nails used for wall hangings can pose a problem when it comes to your deposit. A quick spackle job can easily address the issue in most cases, but for more damaged walls, a fresh coat of paint may be in order. Hopefully, you’ve documented existing damages when you moved in (with photos) to prevent the landlord from claiming damages against you that you didn’t cause.

Leave No Trace

To maximize your chances of getting a security deposit back, you want to leave no trace that the home or apartment has been previously lived in. Think about what your own expectations would be if you were a landlord. You’d likely want the rental unit left in good enough shape that it can immediately be shown to prospective tenants without any large scale cleanup. This means that no furniture, trash or debris get left behind that the landlord would have to dispose of. To put it simply, things should look the same as they did when you moved in.

Clean Thoroughly

Cleaning is perhaps the most important aspect of final move-out plans. Bathrooms and kitchens tend to be the toughest to get spotless, but it shouldn’t be a problem if you’ve given yourself enough time. It’s also a good idea to rent a carpet cleaner to make sure that they’re left in good condition, especially if you’ve had pets or small children. Be sure to communicate to the landlord that you’ve cleaned the carpets or they will likely do it again and charge it against your deposit.

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