New York Security Deposit Law
New York rules on security deposits for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: One month's rent N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a)
The rules in New York
| Security deposit limit | One month's rent Added by the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA). Applies to all residential dwelling units except units under the city rent and rehabilitation law or emergency housing rent control law, licensed CCRCs/assisted living/adult care facilities, and certain senior communities; seasonal-use units and owner-occupied cooperative apartments are also excepted. |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 14 days after the tenant vacates Landlord must return the deposit and/or an itemized statement within 14 days of move-out. |
| Itemized deductions | Itemized statement showing the basis for any amount retained, within 14 days of move-out. Deductions limited to reasonable, itemized costs for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utilities, and moving/storage of tenant belongings. Tenant may request a pre-move-out inspection, after which the landlord must give an itemized list of proposed repairs/cleaning. Landlord bears the burden of proving the reasonableness of any amount retained (§ 7-108(1-a)(f)). |
| Interest on deposits | Required for buildings with 6 or more units: deposit must be held in an interest-bearing account in a New York bank; landlord may keep 1% per year as an administrative fee; the rest of the interest belongs to the tenant (paid annually, applied to rent, or held in trust until the deposit is returned). Landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the bank's name and address and the deposit amount. Buildings with fewer than 6 units are not required to use an interest-bearing account, but if they do, the interest belongs to the tenant less the 1% fee. |
| Penalty for withholding | Missing the 14-day deadline forfeits the landlord's right to keep any part of the deposit. Violators owe actual damages; a willful violation adds punitive damages of up to twice the deposit. Lease clauses waiving these rights are void. |
Free calculators
- Security Deposit Deadline Calculator — See when your landlord must return your deposit, and the penalty your state sets if they don't.
Templates
Related questions
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?
- What can a landlord charge for at move-out (cleaning, painting, carpet)?
New York vs. neighboring states
| State | Security deposit limit | Deposit return deadline | Itemized deductions |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | One month's rent N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a) | 14 days after the tenant vacates N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e) | Itemized statement showing the basis for any amount retained, within 14 days of move-out. Deductions limited to reasonable, itemized costs for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utilities, and moving/storage of tenant belongings. Tenant may request a pre-move-out inspection, after which the landlord must give an itemized list of proposed repairs/cleaning. N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(b), (d), (e) |
| Connecticut | 2 months' rent; 1 month's rent if the tenant is 62 or older. A tenant who turns 62 after paying more than one month's rent can ask for the excess back. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(b) | 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after the landlord receives the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) | Landlord must return the full deposit plus interest, or the balance after deductions together with a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of each damage, within the § 47a-21(d)(2) deadline. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) |
| Massachusetts | Security deposit may not exceed one month's rent. At or before the start of a tenancy a landlord (or the landlord's agent) may require only: first full month's rent, last full month's rent (at the same rate as the first), a security deposit of up to one month's rent, and the purchase and installation cost of a new lock and key. No other upfront charges (e.g., application, pet, or landlord-side broker fees) are allowed. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) | 30 days after the tenancy ends (end of a tenancy at will or end of the lease term). The landlord must return the deposit, or whatever balance remains, with any accrued interest. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4) | To keep any part of the deposit for damage, the landlord must give the tenant, within 30 days after the tenancy ends, an itemized list of the damage. The list must be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury, describe the damage and repairs in precise detail, and include written evidence such as estimates, bills, invoices, or receipts. G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4)(iii) |
| New Jersey | 1.5 times one month's rent. Any additional security collected in a year may not exceed 10% of the current deposit. N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2 | Within 30 days after the lease ends, by personal delivery or registered or certified mail: the deposit plus the tenant's share of interest, minus lawful charges. Within 5 business days if the tenant is displaced by fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation (and the premises are posted or certified as described in the statute). Within 15 business days when a domestic-violence victim ends the lease under N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.6. N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 | Interest and any deductions must be itemized and sent to the tenant by personal delivery or registered or certified mail within the same 30-day period. No deductions may be made from the deposit of a tenant who is still in possession. N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 |
| Pennsylvania | First year of the lease: no more than 2 months' rent. Second and later years (or any renewal): no more than 1 month's rent. After 5+ years of tenancy, a rent increase cannot require a higher deposit. Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.1 (68 P.S. § 250.511a) | 30 days after the lease ends or the tenant surrenders the premises (whichever comes first). Act § 512(a) (68 P.S. § 250.512(a)) | Written list of damages for which the tenant is claimed liable, delivered within 30 days together with payment of the balance. If no list within 30 days, the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit or to sue for damages to the premises. Act § 512(a)-(b) (68 P.S. § 250.512) |
| Vermont | No statutory cap. 9 V.S.A. 4461 | Within 14 days from the date the landlord learns the tenant vacated (or from the move-out date if the tenant gave notice of it); 60 days for seasonal rentals not intended as a primary residence. 9 V.S.A. 4461(c) | Required: written itemized statement of the reasons for any amount withheld, sent with any balance within 14 days. 9 V.S.A. 4461(c) |
City rules that may add to state law
More New York rental law
- New York Eviction Laws
- New York Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in New York
- New York Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- New York Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in New York
- Squatters' Rights in New York
- New York Rental Fee Rules
- New York Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- New York Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- New York Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- New York Landlord Selling the House
- New York Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- New York Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All New York landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in New York
Compare security deposits in all 50 states and DC →
New York Security Deposit Law FAQ
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New York?
One month's rent (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a))
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New York?
14 days after the tenant vacates (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e))
Does a landlord in New York have to give an itemized list of deposit deductions?
Itemized statement showing the basis for any amount retained, within 14 days of move-out. Deductions limited to reasonable, itemized costs for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utilities, and moving/storage of tenant belongings. Tenant may request a pre-move-out inspection, after which the landlord must give an itemized list of proposed repairs/cleaning. (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(b), (d), (e))
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in New York?
Required for buildings with 6 or more units: deposit must be held in an interest-bearing account in a New York bank; landlord may keep 1% per year as an administrative fee; the rest of the interest belongs to the tenant (paid annually, applied to rent, or held in trust until the deposit is returned). (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103(2), (2-a))
What happens if a landlord in New York wrongfully keeps a security deposit?
Missing the 14-day deadline forfeits the landlord's right to keep any part of the deposit. Violators owe actual damages; a willful violation adds punitive damages of up to twice the deposit. (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e), (g))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.