[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":244},["ShallowReactive",2],{"navigation":3,"\u002Flandlords\u002Fsecurity-deposits":86,"\u002Flandlords\u002Fsecurity-deposits-surround":239},[4,49],{"title":5,"path":6,"stem":7,"children":8},"Landlord Rights & Responsibilities","\u002Flandlords","landlords\u002F1.index",[9,10,14,28,41,45],{"title":5,"path":6,"stem":7},{"title":11,"path":12,"stem":13},"Disclaimer","\u002Flandlords\u002Fdisclaimer","landlords\u002F2.disclaimer",{"title":15,"path":16,"stem":17,"children":18},"Rent Stabilization","\u002Flandlords\u002Frent-stabilization","landlords\u002F3.rent-stabilization\u002F1.index",[19,20,24],{"title":15,"path":16,"stem":17},{"title":21,"path":22,"stem":23},"Rent Increase Notices","\u002Flandlords\u002Frent-stabilization\u002Fnotices","landlords\u002F3.rent-stabilization\u002F2.notices",{"title":25,"path":26,"stem":27},"Exemptions","\u002Flandlords\u002Frent-stabilization\u002Fexemptions","landlords\u002F3.rent-stabilization\u002F3.exemptions",{"title":29,"path":30,"stem":31,"children":32},"Just Cause Evictions","\u002Flandlords\u002Fjust-cause-evictions","landlords\u002F4.just-cause-evictions\u002F1.index",[33,34,38],{"title":29,"path":30,"stem":31},{"title":35,"path":36,"stem":37},"Notices","\u002Flandlords\u002Fjust-cause-evictions\u002Fnotices","landlords\u002F4.just-cause-evictions\u002F2.notices",{"title":25,"path":39,"stem":40},"\u002Flandlords\u002Fjust-cause-evictions\u002Fexemptions","landlords\u002F4.just-cause-evictions\u002F3.exemptions",{"title":42,"path":43,"stem":44},"Security Deposits","\u002Flandlords\u002Fsecurity-deposits","landlords\u002F5.security-deposits",{"title":46,"path":47,"stem":48},"Health & Safety","\u002Flandlords\u002Fhealth-and-safety","landlords\u002F6.health-and-safety",{"title":50,"path":51,"stem":52,"children":53},"Renters Rights & Responsibilities","\u002Frenters","renters\u002F1.index",[54,55,58,69,80,83],{"title":50,"path":51,"stem":52},{"title":11,"path":56,"stem":57},"\u002Frenters\u002Fdisclaimer","renters\u002F2.disclaimer",{"title":15,"path":59,"stem":60,"children":61},"\u002Frenters\u002Frent-stabilization","renters\u002F3.rent-stabilization\u002F1.index",[62,63,66],{"title":15,"path":59,"stem":60},{"title":35,"path":64,"stem":65},"\u002Frenters\u002Frent-stabilization\u002Fnotices","renters\u002F3.rent-stabilization\u002F2.notices",{"title":25,"path":67,"stem":68},"\u002Frenters\u002Frent-stabilization\u002Fexemptions","renters\u002F3.rent-stabilization\u002F3.exemptions",{"title":29,"path":70,"stem":71,"children":72},"\u002Frenters\u002Fjust-cause-evictions","renters\u002F4.just-cause-evictions\u002F1.index",[73,74,77],{"title":29,"path":70,"stem":71},{"title":35,"path":75,"stem":76},"\u002Frenters\u002Fjust-cause-evictions\u002Fnotices","renters\u002F4.just-cause-evictions\u002F2.notices",{"title":25,"path":78,"stem":79},"\u002Frenters\u002Fjust-cause-evictions\u002Fexemptions","renters\u002F4.just-cause-evictions\u002F3.exemptions",{"title":42,"path":81,"stem":82},"\u002Frenters\u002Fsecurity-deposits","renters\u002F5.security-deposits",{"title":46,"path":84,"stem":85},"\u002Frenters\u002Fhealth-and-safety","renters\u002F6.health-and-safety",{"id":87,"title":42,"body":88,"description":232,"extension":233,"links":234,"meta":235,"navigation":236,"path":43,"seo":237,"stem":44,"__hash__":238},"docs\u002Flandlords\u002F5.security-deposits.md",{"type":89,"value":90,"toc":222},"minimark",[91,95,98,103,115,119,122,139,142,146,149,163,166,170,195,206,210,217],[92,93,94],"p",{},"A security deposit is a sum of money a tenant pays to a landlord, typically at the beginning of a tenancy, to cover potential damages to the rental property or unpaid rent, with the expectation that it will be returned at the end of the lease if the property is left in good condition.",[92,96,97],{},"Under Civil Code section 1950.5, nearly everything you collect at the start of a tenancy beyond the first month's rent and the application screening fee — whether you call it last month's rent, a pet deposit, a key fee, or a cleaning fee — is legally part of the security deposit. No deposit may ever be labeled \"nonrefundable.\"",[99,100,102],"h2",{"id":101},"amount","Amount",[92,104,105,106,110,111,114],{},"Effective July 1, 2024, security deposits are capped at ",[107,108,109],"strong",{},"one month's rent",", furnished or unfurnished. A small-landlord exception allows up to ",[107,112,113],{},"two months' rent"," if you are a natural person (or an LLC made up entirely of natural persons) and own no more than two residential rental properties with a total of no more than four units. The exception does not apply to military servicemembers, who may only be charged one month's rent.",[99,116,118],{"id":117},"photograph-requirements-ab-2801","Photograph Requirements (AB 2801)",[92,120,121],{},"Assembly Bill 2801 requires a landlord who makes deductions from a security deposit to photograph the unit:",[123,124,125,129,136],"ul",{},[126,127,128],"li",{},"Immediately before, or at the start of, the tenancy (required for tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025)",[126,130,131,132,135],{},"Within a reasonable time after the unit is returned to you, but ",[107,133,134],{},"before"," any repairs or cleaning you will deduct for (effective April 1, 2025)",[126,137,138],{},"Within a reasonable time after the repairs or cleaning are completed",[92,140,141],{},"You must provide these photographs — with the itemized statement — to the departing tenant.",[99,143,145],{"id":144},"what-security-deposits-are-for","What Security Deposits Are For",[92,147,148],{},"You may deduct from a security deposit only for:",[123,150,151,154,157,160],{},[126,152,153],{},"Past-due rent",[126,155,156],{},"The cost of repairing damage caused by the tenant or their guests, excluding ordinary wear and tear",[126,158,159],{},"The cost of cleaning the unit to the level of cleanliness it had at move-in (since January 1, 2025, professional cleaning may be charged only when actually necessary to reach that standard)",[126,161,162],{},"The cost of restoring or replacing your personal property (including keys), if the rental agreement allows it",[92,164,165],{},"You may not deduct for conditions that existed before the tenant moved in or for ordinary wear and tear — for example, moderately worn carpet or minor wall marks. For items with a limited useful life, such as carpet and paint, courts commonly prorate: a tenant who damages 8-year-old carpet with a 10-year life expectancy can be charged only the remaining two years of its value.",[99,167,169],{"id":168},"return-of-the-security-deposit","Return of the Security Deposit",[123,171,172,179,186,189,192],{},[126,173,174,175,178],{},"The refund, minus lawful deductions, is due within ",[107,176,177],{},"21 days"," after the tenant moves out.",[126,180,181,182,185],{},"You must provide a detailed ",[107,183,184],{},"itemized statement"," of any deductions within that period, with photographs of the condition and completed work.",[126,187,188],{},"If you or your employees did the work, the statement must describe the work, the time spent, and a reasonable hourly rate. If someone else did it, include a copy of their bill or invoice with their name, address, and phone number. Receipts are not required when total deductions are under $125, unless the tenant requests them.",[126,190,191],{},"If repairs can't be completed within 21 days, you may provide a good-faith estimate, then a corrected statement with receipts within 14 days of completion.",[126,193,194],{},"Beginning January 1, 2026, if the tenant paid the deposit or rent digitally (bank transfer, payment portal), the refund must also be made digitally unless you agree in writing on another method.",[92,196,197,198,201,202,205],{},"If a court finds that you withheld a deposit in ",[107,199,200],{},"bad faith",", it can order you to return the amount improperly withheld and award the tenant up to ",[107,203,204],{},"twice the deposit"," as a statutory penalty, on top of any actual damages. A late or missing itemized statement is often treated as evidence of bad faith, so meeting the 21-day deadline matters.",[99,207,209],{"id":208},"initial-inspection","Initial Inspection",[92,211,212,213,216],{},"If the tenant requests it, you ",[107,214,215],{},"must"," offer an initial \"pre-move-out\" inspection during the last two weeks of the tenancy, with at least 48 hours' written notice of the date and time. After the inspection you must give the tenant an itemized list of the repairs or cleaning needed to avoid deductions, so they have a chance to correct them before moving out. At the final accounting you may generally deduct only for items on that list, damage that occurred afterward, or problems that were hidden by the tenant's belongings.",[218,219],"caa-upsell",{"description":220,"title":221},"Deposit compliance has more moving parts every year. CAA's itemized statement and inspection forms walk you through each requirement, so deductions stick and penalties don't.","21 days, photos, receipts, itemization — miss one and forfeit it all.",{"title":223,"searchDepth":224,"depth":225,"links":226},"",1,2,[227,228,229,230,231],{"id":101,"depth":225,"text":102},{"id":117,"depth":225,"text":118},{"id":144,"depth":225,"text":145},{"id":168,"depth":225,"text":169},{"id":208,"depth":225,"text":209},"Recent laws have changed deposit limits, documentation, and refund requirements","md",null,{},true,{"title":42,"description":232},"CDUMHQMEGjoxbMIpXki1YTPQTRMskWaIo6PJ9dK-eCQ",[240,242],{"title":25,"path":39,"stem":40,"description":241,"children":-1},"Some properties are exempt from AB 1482's just cause requirements",{"title":46,"path":47,"stem":48,"description":243,"children":-1},"Your habitability obligations, entry rules, and fair housing responsibilities",1788583070464]