Legal To Ask For Additional Security Deposit On Rented Home?

Added March 23, 2009 by Ilyce R. Glink

Print Articles

Summary: Depending on the terms of the lease, it may be possible for a landlord to ask for an additional security deposit on a rented home. If the landlord thinks you are a problem tenant, they might ask for an additional deposit to protect themselves. A long-term lease that includes security deposit terms can protect both sides.

Q: I'm presently renting an apartment. The rent has been raised every year since I moved in four years ago. Is it legal to ask for additional security deposit?

A: They may be able to ask for an additional security deposit. What does your lease say?

The problem I have is that you've already been there for 4 years. They know what kind of a tenant you are. Are they asking for an increased security deposit because they perceive you to be a problem tenant? Or, are they hoping you'll leave so they can really jack up the rent to someone else?

If you don't want to move, consider signing a longer-term lease with the landlord and negotiating a different sort of security deposit arrangement.

See more articles on this topic by clicking on the "RELATED ARTICLES" above and to the right.

We have over 5000 articles on Real Estate Advice, Personal Finance Advice and Consumer Advice on our site. We encourage you to look at these articles. As always, if you have a comment on our articles, don't forget to post your comment below. We thank you for coming to ThinkGlink.com.

© Ilyce R. Glink. All rights reserved. This content may not be used, distributed, syndicated, compiled or excerpted in any medium or form without written authorization from Think Glink, Inc. For information on syndicating ThinkGlink.com please contact us.

Previous article Next article