In California, a landlord may only withhold a tenant’s security deposit for specific reasons, and must provide a refund or a reason for withholding the deposit within 21 days of the time when the tenant vacates the rental unit. Additionally, in San Francisco, a landlord is required to provide the tenant with interest on their security deposit.
When a landlord wrongfully withholds a tenant’s security deposit, a letter from an attorney sent on the tenant’s behalf can often help to resolve the problem. In other instances, filing a lawsuit against the landlord is necessary. In either situation, Humphreys Joiner Law Group, LLP can help advise you on the law and the best way to proceed to get your security deposit back.