Q: When I
give my security deposit to a landlord, what do they do with that money and how long do they have to give it back to me after I move out?
A: The answer varies depending on where you live. Some states (for example: Delaware and Maryland) require that the landlord keep the deposit in a separate account, but other states (Virginia and California) do not. As far as returning the deposit to you, each state has their own laws on how long the landlord can take. Typically, the time period falls between 2-6 weeks after the tenant moves. For a complete list of the security deposit laws in each state click here.
