What is a security deposit for?
The security deposit protects the landlord against two risks: unpaid rent or charges, and damage beyond normal wear. Its amount, often expressed as a number of months’ rent, depends on local rules and market practice.
The return: the sensitive part
Returning the deposit is one of the main sources of end-of-tenancy conflict. To keep it objective, everything must be written up front: the amount in the lease, what it covers, the return period, and above all a detailed inventory of fixtures at move-in as a point of comparison.
Tracking the deposit over time
A deposit paid three years ago is easily disputed if no one keeps a record. A rental management tool holds the amount, date and conditions at lease level, making the return simple and hard to contest.