What are the rules governing the return of a tenants security deposit?
Upon the termination of a residential lease, the landlord has 30 days to give the tenant written notice by certified mail of the landlord’s intentions to keep all or a part of the tenant’s security deposit. If the tenant disagrees with the landlord’s intentions, the tenant has 15 days from receipt of the landlord’s letter to respond by certified mail. Thereupon, the parties must work out a compromise or have the matter settled in small claims court. This is a situation where the looser in court will have to pay the winner’s attorney’s fees.
