Fair Housing Act: Federal law prohibiting discrimination in housing transactions, including the collection and handling of security deposits. Must ensure the security deposit form and requirements are applied equally to all tenants regardless of protected characteristics.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Federal legislation requiring consideration of reasonable accommodations for disabled tenants, which may affect security deposit terms and conditions.
State Security Deposit Limits: State-specific laws that set maximum amounts that can be collected as security deposits, typically expressed as a multiple of monthly rent (varies by state).
Deposit Return Timeframes: State laws stipulating the legal timeframe (usually 14-60 days) within which landlords must return security deposits or provide itemized deduction statements after lease termination.
Interest Requirements: State-specific regulations regarding whether security deposits must be held in interest-bearing accounts and how interest must be handled or distributed to tenants.
Allowable Deductions: State laws defining what types of damages or charges can be legally deducted from security deposits (typically excluding normal wear and tear).
Security Deposit Account Requirements: State regulations regarding how security deposits must be held, including requirements for separate accounts and segregation from other funds.
State Property Laws: General landlord-tenant regulations governing property maintenance, rights, and responsibilities that affect security deposit terms and conditions.
Inspection Requirements: State-specific requirements for conducting and documenting move-in and move-out inspections related to security deposits.
Documentation Requirements: State laws requiring specific documentation, such as itemized lists of deductions and receipts for repairs, when withholding security deposits.
Consumer Protection Laws: State and federal regulations protecting tenants from unfair practices, including required disclosures and prohibited practices in security deposit handling.
Banking Regulations: State-specific rules governing how financial institutions must handle security deposit accounts and any special requirements for interest-bearing accounts.
