Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

When you surrender possession to the landlord (fully moved out and deliver the keys, or make other arrangements), the clock starts ticking. Within 21 days the landlord must return your full security deposit, or provide an accounting for the use of your security deposit to pay for damage to the property that exceeds normal wear and tear. They may also charge you for cleaning if the apartment is not clean. Read California Civil Code �1950.5 for the entire story. You should also be offered by your landlord a pre-move-out walk through, during which the landlord is to advise you of the charges he or she will deduct from your security deposit. This gives you a chance to fix them before you move so you can get your whole security deposit back.

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