DOES THE LANDLORD HAVE TO RETURN THE SECURITY DEPOSIT WHEN THE RENTAL PERIOD IS OVER?
The landlord does not have to charge a security deposit, but most do. The purpose of the security deposit is to protect the landlord if the tenant damages the rental property. The landlord can not keep the security deposit to pay for ordinary wear and tear on the rental property. Ordinary wear and tear means damage that would naturally occur from living in a house or apartment. For example, fingerprints on the wall around a light switch would be ordinary wear and tear, but crayon marks on the wall would not be. The landlord is required to keep the security deposit in a separate bank account. When the tenant moves out, the landlord must return all of the security deposit which he does not use to pay for damages. The landlord must give the tenant an itemized list of the damages which he pays for with the security deposit. If the landlord does not keep the security deposit in a separate account, he must return the entire security deposit to the tenant. The tenant must give the landlord a
