🏠 PENNSYLVANIA · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 2 months' rent in the first year; 1 month's rent in the second and later years. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: forfeiture of the right to withhold anything, plus double the amount by which the escrow exceeds actual damages.
The Pennsylvania statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ 68 P.S. § 250.512
Landlord must provide a written list of damages and return the deposit within 30 days of lease termination or surrender. Failure to provide the list within 30 days forfeits the right to withhold any amount; late return triggers double damages. Deposit cap is two months rent (one month after the first year). Waiver is void. Verified against primary statute text (FindLaw / PA Bulletin) 2026-06-28.
Read the Pennsylvania source text →Pennsylvania deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Pennsylvania requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 2 months' rent in the first year; 1 month's rent in the second and later years |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Forfeiture of the right to withhold anything, plus double the amount by which the escrow exceeds actual damages |
| Governing statute | 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 |
Section 512(b) forfeits all withholding rights if the written list of damages is not provided within 30 days; § 512(c) adds double liability for failing to pay the balance. After five years of possession, a rent increase may not require a matching deposit increase (§ 511.1(d)). Every figure here was read from the Pennsylvania statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Pennsylvania
The 30 days clock in Pennsylvania68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 sets Pennsylvania's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy. Section 512(b) forfeits all withholding rights if the written list of damages is not provided within 30 days; § 512(c) adds double liability for failing to pay the balance. After five years of possession, a rent increase may not require a matching deposit increase (§ 511.1(d)).
Pennsylvania caps the deposit at 2 months' rent in the first year; 1 month's rent in the second and later yearsA Pennsylvania landlord may not demand more than 2 months' rent in the first year; 1 month's rent in the second and later years as a security deposit under 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Pennsylvania requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in PennsylvaniaForfeiture of the right to withhold anything, plus double the amount by which the escrow exceeds actual damages — that is the remedy 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Pennsylvania, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Pennsylvania the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Pennsylvania small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (forfeiture of the right to withhold anything, plus double the amount by which the escrow exceeds actual damages) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Pennsylvania
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Pennsylvania?
68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Section 512(b) forfeits all withholding rights if the written list of damages is not provided within 30 days; § 512(c) adds double liability for failing to pay the balance. After five years of possession, a rent increase may not require a matching deposit increase (§ 511.1(d)).
What happens if my Pennsylvania landlord misses the deadline?
Forfeiture of the right to withhold anything, plus double the amount by which the escrow exceeds actual damages. That remedy is written into 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania caps it at 2 months' rent in the first year; 1 month's rent in the second and later years under 68 P.S. §§ 250.511a, 250.512. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Pennsylvania landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.