Pennsylvania · PA · updated 2026
In Pennsylvania, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days
Quick answer
A Pennsylvania landlord has 30 calendar days after the tenancy ends or you surrender, whichever is first to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it in bad faith and the landlord can end up owing you more than the deposit itself.
Under Pennsylvania security deposit law, a Pennsylvania landlord has 30 calendar days to return your security deposit, counted from when the tenancy ends or you surrender, whichever is first. By statute, the deposit is capped at 2 months' rent. If the landlord misses the deadline or keeps money you are owed, you can push back in writing and, if needed, in small claims court.
- Return deadline
- 30 calendar days
- Deadline counted from
- the tenancy ends or you surrender, whichever is first
- Itemized statement
- Required
- Move-in condition list
- Not required by statute
- Maximum deposit
- 2 months' rent
- Interest on deposit
- Required
Calculate your exact Pennsylvania deadline
Enter your move-out date to see the exact calendar date the deadline lands on. It runs on your device, so nothing you type is uploaded.
What a Pennsylvania landlord can deduct
- Unpaid rent and unpaid utilities you owe under the lease
- Repair of damage beyond ordinary wear and tear (not normal aging, fading, or minor marks)
- An itemized written statement of every deduction (Pennsylvania requires it, so ask for it in writing)
If the landlord withholds in bad faith
Failure to provide the itemized damage list within 30 days forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion of escrowed funds and bars a damages counterclaim (68 P.S. §250.512(b)); failure to return the balance within 30 days makes the landlord liable in assumpsit for double the amount by which the escrowed sum exceeds actual damages (§250.512(c)).
How to get your deposit back in Pennsylvania
- Document the unit's condition at move-out with dated photos of every room (a move-in / move-out checklist keeps it organized).
- Confirm your exact return deadline with the deadline calculator.
- If the deadline passes, send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed.
- If it is still ignored, you can file in small claims court.
Common Pennsylvania deposit disputes
- The deadline passed and you have heard nothing
- Send a written demand letter citing the statute and the amount owed. Keep proof you sent it.
- You got money back but disagree with the deductions
- Pennsylvania requires an itemized statement, so ask for it in writing first, then dispute anything charged as ordinary wear and tear.
- You are still deciding whether the case is worth it
- Confirm the exact deadline below, gather your dated move-out photos, and read the penalty your state allows before you commit.
Frequently asked
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
- In Pennsylvania, a landlord must return a security deposit within 30 calendar days.
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania caps the security deposit at 2 months' rent.
- Can my Pennsylvania landlord keep my deposit for cleaning or normal wear?
- Deductions are generally limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Pennsylvania requires the landlord to give an itemized statement of deductions.
- Does a Pennsylvania landlord have to pay interest on my deposit?
- Yes. Pennsylvania requires the landlord to pay interest on the security deposit.
- What if my Pennsylvania landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
- Failure to provide the itemized damage list within 30 days forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion of escrowed funds and bars a damages counterclaim (68 P.S. §250.512(b)); failure to return the balance within 30 days makes the landlord liable in assumpsit for double the amount by which the escrowed sum exceeds actual damages (§250.512(c)).
Cap: 2mo rent max yr1; 1mo max yr2+ (511a). Itemized list+balance due 30 days after termination/surrender. Interest confirmed: escrow over $100 held past 2nd anniversary (month 25/yr3), less 1%/yr fee (511b). PA official site unreachable; verified via FindLaw.