Question: Our lease ends soon and I’m worried that our landlord won’t return the security deposit. We have since found out he has had several judgments against him for not returning security deposits to previous tenants. We have taken excellent care of the house. Can I use that deposit as my next-to-last month’s rent? We already paid last month’s rent when we moved in. – James
Answer: The simple answer is that neither you nor your landlord can use the security deposit as rent unless you both agree to do so. In Florida – and in many other states – the security deposit must be held in a separate bank account from the rent, and there are specific rules about how the landlord can make a claim against it.
At the end of your lease, the deposit must be returned within 15 days unless the landlord makes a claim against it for damage, and then he or she must send you a certified letter within 30 days. After you get the letter, you have 15 days to object. If you don’t, the landlord may deduct for the damage and return the rest to you.
If your landlord breaks the rules and just keeps the money – or if you object – the situation will end up in court. If you win the suit, you will get a judgment that you can “execute,” or turn into money, if the landlord does not pay you.
