What are the legal obligations of a landlord in regards to the return of a tenant’s security deposit?

In Pennsylvania, landlords have a legal obligation to return a tenant’s security deposit within 30 days of the tenant vacating the property. If any damage has been done to the property, the landlord may subtract that amount from the deposit. Landlords are not allowed to keep any of the deposit outside of what is owed for actual damages. If any deductions are made, the landlord is legally required to provide the tenant with an itemized statement of the deductions along with the remaining security deposit. This statement must be delivered either in person, by mail or by email. It is important to provide a forwarding address or email address to the landlord when the tenant vacates. The landlord is also obligated to keep records of the tenant’s deposits. These can be in the form of a ledger, a copy of the deposit check, receipts for repair work, or any other form of documentation. This is to protect both the tenant and the landlord in the event of a dispute over the tenant’s security deposit. It is also important for the landlord to make sure the property is in the same condition as it was when the tenant moved in. This includes any reasonable wear and tear that has occurred due to normal use. If the tenant did not cause any damages, the landlord should not be keeping any of the security deposit.

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What are the legal obligations of a landlord in regards to the return of a tenant’s security deposit?

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