Landlord Advice

What Reasons Can a Landlord Keep My Security Deposit

Fantastic Team
Published: Jun 10/2019
Last update: Aug 11/2023
7min read
Views: 10,448

Image source: bluedog studio / Shutterstock.com

Often tenants struggle to get their security deposit (or damage deposit) back when their lease agreement ends. Some renters think that hovering on the floor and wiping the dust before leaving is enough, and then are surprised when the landlord withholds the deposit. Landlords usually have a long inspection list detailing the tenant’s obligations prior to moving out.

So if you want your moving experience to go as smoothly as possible, knowing what your landlord can and cannot deduct from the deposit, will surely help.

What can a landlord deduct from your security deposit?

Deposit reduction is normally determined by the lease agreement and the particular landlord-tenant laws in the state/country. In most cases, a detailed inventory list is made as a part of the contract before a tenant moves in. This list contains all items on the property, along with the condition of the walls, carpets, furniture, appliances etc.

The landlord checks the condition of the property according to the inventory when the time comes for the tenant to leave. The rental property should be in the same condition as in the beginning.

What can a landlord keep from your deposit?

#1 Breaking your tenancy agreement

Your landlord can keep part of the security deposit, or even all of it, in case you break the agreement. Usually, this is in order to cover any possible costs caused by the breach.

For example, if there is a clause for early termination of the contract, you have the obligation to stick to these terms. It usually takes weeks and even months, to find a replacement tenant and this can cause financial issues for the landlord.

#2 Missing items

Landlords have the right to make deductions for missing items. Carefully check the inventory list before you move out to make sure that nothing is missing…

#3 Unpaid rent or utilities

You can definitely lose your deposit if you are late on paying the utility bills or if the rent is not paid. The landlord will probably have to keep the security deposit in order to cover those debts.

#4 Keeping pets

If you have a dog or cat, your landlord is more likely to deduct money from your deposit. Any damage caused by the pet or a nasty lingering pet smell in the common area can be a reason for a lost deposit.

Any changes to the framework of the rented property without your landlord’s permission could count as damage, so always think carefully before making any pet structures.

If no damage was done, the landlord can’t deduct money just because a pet was in the house. This applies even if the tenancy agreement does not allow to keep pets.

#5 Cleaning Cost

All domestic work such as cleaning the property before moving out is the tenant’s responsibility. You have to leave your apartment or house in the same conditions as when you moved in.

If you choose to neglect this step, the landlord can retain the money necessary to cover the cleaning cost. And will surely aim for high-end services rather than mind the price after tenants leave, while all costs on cleaners will be withheld from the tenancy deposit.

If your property has a patio deck, garden area, driveway or parking lot, all these areas are either assigned as in the housing agreement. Don’t forget that they fall into your tenant cleaning responsibilities too! For a full list of everything that needs to be cleaned at the end of your tenancy agreement, see our end-of-tenancy clean checklist.

Visit the main website to learn about our end of tenancy cleaning solution for when you move out.

Learn More

#6 Painting Costs

Usually, it is a landlord’s responsibility to repaint every few years for basic maintenance. This is why they normally can not deduct the cost of paint from the deposit. However, if you painted the walls or have made significant damage to the paint, your landlord has the right to use the security deposit to cover the repainting.

Deductions a landlord cannot make

Typically, landlords may charge tenants for the cleaning or restoration of the rental units. However, a landlord cannot use your security deposit to cover the costs of ordinary wear and tear. And the longer you have been living in a property, the more wear and tear can be presumed.

Upon moving in, both the tenant and the landlord should conduct a walk-through inspection according to the inventory list. The best practice is to take pictures and document the condition of the property and its internals. Any existing damage should be recorded prior to signing the inventory list.

What is normal Wear and Tear and what does it include?

Ordinary wear and tear is damage that naturally occurs in property due to ageing and utilization. This is contrary to damage caused by tenants as a result of negligence, carelessness or abuse.

In the guide below we are going to provide examples of normal wear and tear vs damage caused by the tenants.

Subject	Normal Wear & Tear: Landlord’s Responsibility	Excessive Tenant Damage: Resident’s Responsibility
Walls	Nail holes, chips, smudges, dents, scrapes, or cracks in the walls	Large holes in walls from abuse, accidents, or neglect. To many of nail holes, that need patching and repainting.
		Water damage on the wall from hanging plants.
	Mould due to bad construction work	Mould due to lack of regular cleanings and ventilating
Paint		Unapproved paint colours or unprofessional paint jobs.
	Slightly torn or faded wallpaper	Unapproved wallpaper, drawings, or crayon markings on walls
	Faded paint	Scrubbed paint from intensive rubbing
Windows	Cracked window panel from a faulty installation or building settling	Broken windows from the action of the tenant side
Countertops	Natural discolouring or peeling	Cuts or burns on countertops
Flooring	Scuffed varnish on wood floors from regular use	Scraped from pets or chipped wood floors
	Dark patches on hardwood that have lost their finish with the time	Water stains on wood floors and windowsills caused by windows being left open during rainstorms
	Faded paint or peeling exterior	Sticky cabinets and interiors
	Loose grouting and tiles	Missing or cracked bathroom tiles
	Faded colour or peeling	Holes, burns or tears in linoleum
Carpet	Carpet faded or worn thin from walking	Holes, stains, or burns in the carpet. Food stains, urine stains, and leaky fish tanks stains, pet damages.
Others	Clogged sinks or drains caused by old pipes	Clogged sinks due to the tenant’s improper usage – like hair, diapers, food, etc.
	Mirror’s beginning to “de-silver” (black spots)	Mirrors caked
	Worn gaskets on refrigerator doors	Broken refrigerator shelf or dented front panels
	Replacement of an expensive fluorescent light bulb	Replacement of most common light bulbs
	Loose handles or toilet seat	Broken toilet seat, tank or handle
	Watering can that is left in the yard	Trash pile in the yard, outdoor furniture left on the patio
	Hole in the wall where a door handle bumped it	Door off its hinges
	Stains and discolouring on old porcelain that has lost their protective coating	Grime-coated bathtub and toilet

Takeaways

No matter if you are a first-time landlord or have been in the business for a while, there are some mandatory maintenance and cleaning duties that need to be met according to most tenancy agreements.
This includes things like paying utility bills, obeying rules about keeping pets in the home and generally following the agreement you have signed off on.
The only exceptions that the law allows are the so-called “wear and tear” damages that come naturally with time.

Disclaimer: Every piece of information here is meant for informational and educational purposes only. So please, do not use this as a definitive legal advice. Fantastic Services encourages you to seek authority professional counsel before you decide to act upon what you have read. For more information, check our disclaimer.