On the other hand, the party making an advance payment retains no right to insist upon the return of the funds as long as the recipient fulfills the contractual agreement.
Examples of non-deductible wear and tear include: paint retouching, minor cleaning, small tack holes, and nicks and scratches.
Examples of deductible damages include large or excessive holes in the wall, carpet stains, and broken doors and windows.
The cities of Madison, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, have substantially greater protection of tenants' security deposit rights than the surrounding areas.
[10] Studies have shown that landlords often improperly withhold security deposits after tenants move out, and often get away with it because it's too much trouble to fight.
[12][13] In states which are more tenant-friendly, like Connecticut, the amount an owner can charge for a security deposit in any property is limited to the equivalent of two month's rent.