Housing

questions & answers

Question: I need to move for work. It's before the end of the lease. If I turn over keys and pay in full, can I demand security deposit returned? Landord is saying that I would still be responsible for the property...is this true?

Answer: Unless the rental agreement explicitly says otherwise, ordinarily so long as a tenant provides advance notice to the landlord of the tenant’s intention to terminate the rental agreement, no unpaid rent is or will be due to the landlord after the tenant moves out, and the tenant returns possession of the rented dwelling to the landlord, the rental agreement ends on the date identified by the tenant (after a move-out inspection and the return of the keys to the landlord). At that point, the landlord has 14 business days after written demand by the tenant to return the tenant’s security deposit (less any lawful deductions).