Know Your Security Deposit Rights

The general rule about getting security deposits back is that tenants are not responsible for normal wear and tear. If you or your guests cause damage by your unreasonable carelessness or deliberate misuse, however, you must pay for it. You must leave a rental at least as clean as it was when you moved in. Because "normal wear and tear" can be interpreted many different ways, disputes often arise. The bottom line is that the better you itemize and document the condition of the rental unit when you move in, the better case you will have against a landlord who tries to stiff you on the way out.