Moving into a new rental
home usually requires a big
upfront payment. You fork
over your first month's rent,
plus a hefty security deposit.
Ideally, you'll get that deposit
back. But a lot can happen
between the time you move in
and the time you leave. Follow
these tips to make sure your
security deposit is returned.
How to Get (Most of) Your
Security Deposit Back
This is a pretty obvious tip,
but it's worth repeating: make
sure you know your lease.
Know the Law
In general, laws seem to
favor landlords over tenants,
although that is changing
in Seattle. Be familiar with
the Landlord Tenant Act and
what the requirements are for
security deposit return.
The laws vary by location, of
Read Your Lease Carefully
Make sure you're familiar
with the conditions of your
lease. Understand what must
be done in order to have
your deposit refunded. In
general, the rule is: you're
not responsible for normal
wear and tear. But you're also probably expected to
leave the apartment in good condition, Windermere's
lease denotes that the property must be returned in
the same condition (or better) than given. Depending on
your lease, this might mean the windows are cleaned,
nail holes are filled, etc.
Before
You
Move In
