For renters, a security fee is an important tool. It gives landlords peace of mind when renters do not pay or hurt rented property.
What you will find out:
How do security payments work, and what are they?
How do you figure out what a security fee is?
Is there a cap on how much a security deposit can be?
What can a landlord do with the money from a security deposit?
There is a chance that a renter will not pay rent or will damage your property if you are an owner. One way to lessen this danger is by putting down a protection fee. When it comes to security fees, there are rules and best practices, just like with any other part of the rental business. We will talk about what security deposits are, what they are used for, and how to figure out how much to ask for them.
Table of Contents
How do security payments work, and what are they?
A security deposit is extra money that the landlord gets from the renter and keeps in case there are any extra costs. Some of these costs could be missed rent, damage to property, or court fees. Some owners charge extra pet fees to make up for the chance that a pet will cause damage or need more cleaning.
Your lease should say how much the security deposit is and what it will be used for. At the end of the lease, you should probably give the renter a Security Deposit Return Letter to prove that you have returned their deposit.
If you keep any of the security deposit, you have to tell the tenant about the charges within a certain number of days after they move out. This rule is different in each state or city government.
How do you figure out what a security fee is?
A lot of security fees are the same as one month’s rent. Some owners will charge an extra month’s rent if the renter has bad credit or if there is some other risk. For example, landlords in areas with strong renter rights often charge bigger security deposits because it takes time and money to get rid of a tenant.
Some owners may not ask for a security fee or only ask for a small amount. Large owners can share the chance of losing money over all of their flats. They also use a low fee as a way to get people to sign up. A small owner who can not handle the extra risk might not be able to accept a low fee.
The amount of the protection fee should be written in the lease. You should also say if the payment is equal to one month’s rent. This makes it easy to raise the security deposit if you want to repeat the lease at a higher rent.
Is there a cap on how much a security deposit can be?
The amount of a security fee is limited by both common sense and the law. If you charge more than other places that are similar, it will be harder to find renters. Some state and local laws limit how much you can put down as a deposit. In New York, the limit is one month’s rent, while in California, the limit is two or three months’ rent, based on whether or not the house is equipped.
You should find out what your area considers a protection fee. If you also want to charge the last month’s rent, this may or may not count as a security deposit or toward the caps on security deposits. There are also different rules about whether pet deposits count as protection deposits or as part of the cap on deposits.
When it comes to pet deposits, you might not be able to charge a payment if the renter wants to add a pet during the lease. If the lease does not say anything about pets, you probably can not add a fee. If it says “no pets,” you can arrange a deposit with the renter and have them sign a “Pet Addendum” to get around the “no pets” rule. Another way to handle it in the original lease is to set a pet payment if the renter has pets, have them sign that they do not have pets, and then collect the set amount when they get a pet.
What can a landlord do with the money from a security deposit?
Most of the time, the owner can not use the money from the security fee while the lease is in effect. In most states, the deposit money goes to the renter and must be kept in a separate bank account by the owner. The owner may be able to use the deposit to pay for damage or rent that was not paid during the lease. The renter would then have to pay back the deposit. During COVID-19, many owners have let renters put their deposit toward their rent.
At the end of the lease, the renter should get their entire deposit back. The damage that goes beyond normal wear and tear is what the deposit is for. For example, you can charge a renter to fix a spot on the carpet, but you can not charge them to replace a carpet that is worn out because it is old. If the renter is behind on rent or other fees, the deposit can also be used to pay for those fees.
In some places, you might not be able to use the security fee to pay for missed rent, property damage, or other charges. You may also lose the right to keep the deposit if you do not tell the landlord about charges on time. In those cases, you will have to return the security deposit and go to collecting or small claims court to get any money the rental has not paid back.
