Pennsylvania security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in Pennsylvania. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in Pennsylvania
- Return timing
- 30 days after lease termination or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs first (section 512(a)). Failure to provide a new address in writing affects liability under section 512(e); it is a separate condition, not the clock trigger.
- Accounting for deductions
- A written list of claimed damages must be delivered within 30 days, accompanied by payment of the difference between the deposit (plus any unpaid interest) and the actual damages (68 P.S. § 250.512(a)).
- Deposit interest
- Deposits held 2+ years earn interest from the start of the third year (bank rate, less a 1% a year landlord's fee), paid annually (68 P.S. § 250.511b).
Registry review: July 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules, not an attorney review of your case.
Does this rule apply to your rental?
Check the type of tenancy, the lease and any local or housing-program rules before relying on the statewide summary.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗What starts the return clock?
30 days after lease termination or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs first (section 512(a)). Failure to provide a new address in writing affects liability under section 512(e); it is a separate condition, not the clock trigger.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗Check your return timing
Optional estimate from your move-out date. Read the start conditions above before treating that estimate as the return deadline. You can start the free analysis without completing this check.
Check what the landlord deducted
No express receipts requirement, but the burden of proving actual damages is on the landlord (§ 250.512(c)); deductions are limited to actual damages, unpaid rent, or breach of lease.
Match each charge to the work alleged, the lease provision and the records supporting the amount. Keep refunds and charges you accept separate from those you dispute.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗What could you recover?
If the landlord fails to return the difference within 30 days, the tenant may recover double the amount wrongfully withheld (68 P.S. § 250.512(c)). Critical: the tenant must have given a new address in writing - otherwise the landlord is relieved of liability under § 250.512(e).
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in 68 P.S. § 250.512(c), including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗Put the rules to work
See how the rules fit your deposit dispute
Free analysis
Add the refund, charges and records. Review the deductions and possible remedies with an explanation tied to your facts.
Full case package $29-$49
Turn your case into a demand letter, organized exhibits and a next-step plan. Review the analysis before deciding to buy.
Your entered dates and deposit amount carry forward. Additional timing details are saved in case notes. The next step asks for the refund and charges so you can build on this check.
Choose your next step
Small-claims limit: $12,000. Filing: $68.50-$171 (by claim size; Philadelphia: Municipal Court). The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Questions about Pennsylvania deposit rights
How long does a Pennsylvania landlord have to return a security deposit?
30 days after lease termination or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs first (section 512(a)). Failure to provide a new address in writing affects liability under section 512(e); it is a separate condition, not the clock trigger.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules in Pennsylvania?
A landlord who fails to provide the written list within 30 days forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the deposit and to sue the tenant for damages to the premises (§ 250.512(b)). Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗Understand the possible recovery →What accounting should I ask for in Pennsylvania?
A written list of claimed damages must be delivered within 30 days, accompanied by payment of the difference between the deposit (plus any unpaid interest) and the actual damages (68 P.S. § 250.512(a)). No express receipts requirement, but the burden of proving actual damages is on the landlord (§ 250.512(c)); deductions are limited to actual damages, unpaid rent, or breach of lease.
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗What should I check about deposit interest in Pennsylvania?
Deposits held 2+ years earn interest from the start of the third year (bank rate, less a 1% a year landlord's fee), paid annually (68 P.S. § 250.511b).
68 P.S. § 250.512 ↗