Pennsylvania · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026
Pennsylvania security deposit law
How much a landlord in Pennsylvania can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.
Short answer
In Pennsylvania, the deposit limit is: Two months' rent during the first year of the lease. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 30 days after the lease ends or after you move out and the landlord accepts the keys, whichever comes first, the landlord must send a written list of damages and the rest of the deposit.
- deposit limit
- 2 months' rent (with exceptions)
- to return a deposit
- 30 days
- deposit penalty
- Up to 2×
Security deposit in Pennsylvania
- Limit
- Two months' rent during the first year of the lease. One month's rent in the second and later years (or any renewal). After you have lived there 5 years, a rent increase can't be used to raise the deposit.
- Deadline to return it
- Within 30 days after the lease ends or after you move out and the landlord accepts the keys, whichever comes first, the landlord must send a written list of damages and the rest of the deposit. You must give your new address in writing; if you don't, the landlord is not liable under this law.
- Itemized list
- Yes. A written list of any damages the landlord claims, sent with the refund within 30 days. If the landlord doesn't send the list in time, the landlord loses the right to keep any part of the deposit for damages and can't sue you for damages. The landlord may still keep money for unpaid rent. The landlord has the burden of proving damages. Receipts are not required by the law.
- What may be deducted
- Actual damage to the unit caused by you, unpaid rent, and other lease breaches.
- Interest
- Yes, after 2 years. For deposits over $100 held past the second anniversary, the money must be in a bank escrow account and you get the interest earned each year on your lease anniversary, minus a 1% per year fee the landlord may keep (Act section 511.2).
- Separate account
- For deposits over $100, the law requires a bank escrow account and a written notice to you of the bank's name and address and the amount; the section says it applies after the second anniversary of the deposit. The landlord may post a bond instead (Act sections 511.2, 511.3).
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- Double the amount wrongly withheld (twice the amount by which the deposit plus interest exceeds the actual damages). A landlord who misses the 30-day list also forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit for damages.
Get your deposit back, step by step
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Pennsylvania: You must give your new address in writing; if you don't, the landlord is not liable under this law.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after the lease ends or after you move out and the landlord accepts the keys, whichever comes first, the landlord must send a written list of damages and the rest of the deposit.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $12,000 in Magisterial District Courts and Philadelphia Municipal Court. Small claims court in Pennsylvania on Small Claims Map
Deposit return calculator for Pennsylvania
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Pennsylvania
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Small claims court in Pennsylvania
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $12,000 in Magisterial District Courts and Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Questions about security deposits in Pennsylvania
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
Two months' rent during the first year of the lease. One month's rent in the second and later years (or any renewal). After you have lived there 5 years, a rent increase can't be used to raise the deposit.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
Within 30 days after the lease ends or after you move out and the landlord accepts the keys, whichever comes first, the landlord must send a written list of damages and the rest of the deposit. You must give your new address in writing; if you don't, the landlord is not liable under this law.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Pennsylvania?
Double the amount wrongly withheld (twice the amount by which the deposit plus interest exceeds the actual damages). A landlord who misses the 30-day list also forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit for damages.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
Actual damage to the unit caused by you, unpaid rent, and other lease breaches.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
Yes, after 2 years. For deposits over $100 held past the second anniversary, the money must be in a bank escrow account and you get the interest earned each year on your lease anniversary, minus a 1% per year fee the landlord may keep (Act section 511.2).
What is the small claims limit in Pennsylvania?
$12,000 in Magisterial District Courts and Philadelphia Municipal Court.
More for Pennsylvania renters
- All Pennsylvania tenant rights
- Repairs: Pennsylvania
- Eviction: Pennsylvania
- Security deposit laws by state (2026)
- Guide: how to get your security deposit back