California Apartment Association

Security Deposits – What can an owner use a security deposit for?

The security deposit can be applied to: (1) a resident’s default in the payment of rent; (2) the repair of damages to the premises (exclusive of ordinary wear and tear); (3) the cleaning of the premises upon termination of the tenancy if necessary to bring the unit to the same level of cleanliness it was in at the inception of the tenancy; or (4) remedy future defaults by the resident in any obligations under the rental agreement to restore, replace, or return personal property to their original position (exclusive of ordinary wear and tear).