Security deposit calculator: the legal maximum and your refund
A security deposit is money a tenant pays the landlord at the start of a tenancy to cover unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. It still belongs to the tenant: whatever is not used for those costs must be returned when the tenancy ends. This security deposit calculator answers the two questions people actually have — how much can the landlord legally ask for, and how much should come back at move-out.
Pick a country and the law that applies: India’s Model Tenancy Act, 2021 and the tenancy laws of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; or one of 15 US states. Enter the rent and the deposit asked to see the cap and whether the demand is within it, then enter the deposit paid and the deductions to get the refund, any interest the law adds, and the refund deadline from your move-out date. Everything runs in your browser. It is an informational estimate, not legal advice.
How to use the Security Deposit Calculator
- Choose the Country and Law that applies. In India, use the Model Tenancy Act option only if your state has adopted it; otherwise choose “Other state”.
- Enter the Rent a month and the Deposit asked, and answer any extra question for that law (premises use, tenancy length, lease year or small-landlord status).
- Read the maximum deposit, the verdict and the refund and interest rules, with links to the law.
- Under Refund at move-out, enter the deposit paid, the move-out date, any interest rate and each deduction.
- Read the refund due, the deadline date and how the deposit splits between refund and deductions.
Security Deposit Calculator features
Legal caps from the source
Each rule was checked against the statute or government guidance on 19 October 2026 and links to it.
Exact England arithmetic
Weekly rent is the monthly rent × 12 ÷ 52, and the 5- or 6-week cap is rounded down to the penny so it never exceeds the limit.
Conditional rules handled
California’s small-landlord and service-member rules, North Carolina’s tenancy lengths, Pennsylvania’s first-year rule and India’s residential versus non-residential caps.
Refund, interest and deadline
Deductions, statutory interest (including Ohio’s “excess over one month” rule) and a dated deadline, in calendar or business days.
Security deposit limits at a glance
| Place | Maximum deposit | Refund deadline |
|---|---|---|
| India — Model Tenancy Act, 2021 | 2 months’ rent (residential), 6 months’ (non-residential) | On handover of vacant possession |
| Tamil Nadu (2017 Act) | 3 months’ rent unless agreed otherwise | On handover |
| England | 5 weeks’ rent; 6 weeks’ if annual rent is £50,000+ | 10 days after agreeing the amount |
| Scotland / Northern Ireland | 2 months’ / 1 month’s rent | Through the deposit scheme |
| California / New York / Massachusetts | 1 month’s rent (California small landlords: 2) | 21 / 14 / 30 days |
| Georgia / Virginia | 2 months’ rent | 30 / 45 days |
| Arizona / Michigan / New Jersey | 1½ months’ rent | 14 business days / 30 / 30 days |
| Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Washington | No state cap | 30 / 15–30 / 30–45 / 30 / 30 days |
How the refund is worked out
Refund = deposit paid + interest − deductions. Interest is simple interest on the deposit for the time it was held; in Ohio only the part above the greater of $50 or one month’s rent earns 5%, and only if you stayed at least six months. Deductions should be real, itemised costs: unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, cleaning when the home was left dirtier than at move-in, and unpaid bills.
Example (India): rent ₹25,000, deposit ₹50,000 (the Model Tenancy Act maximum for a home). At move-out the landlord deducts ₹6,000 for a broken window, ₹2,000 for cleaning and ₹1,500 for an unpaid electricity bill. The refund is ₹50,000 − ₹9,500 = ₹40,500.
Example (England): rent £1,500 a month is £18,000 a year, so the cap is 5 weeks: £1,500 × 12 ÷ 52 × 5 = £1,730.76. A deposit of £1,731 would be a prohibited payment.
Before you pay or hand back the keys
- Get a written agreement that states the deposit, what it covers and how it is returned — the rent agreement generator can draft one, and the rent receipt generator records payments.
- Photograph every room at move-in and move-out; normal wear and tear cannot be charged.
- In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, check the deposit is protected in an approved scheme; its free dispute service handles disagreements.
- Moving mid-month? Work out the last month’s rent with the prorated rent calculator.
Security Deposit Calculator FAQ
What does security deposit mean?
It is a refundable sum a tenant pays to secure the landlord against unpaid rent or damage. It is not extra rent: the balance must be returned when the tenancy ends.
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in India?
Under the Model Tenancy Act, 2021, up to two months’ rent for a home and six months’ for non-residential premises — but only in states that have enacted it. Elsewhere the rent agreement decides, which is why deposits vary widely between cities.
Can I ask the landlord to treat the deposit as the last month’s rent, for example in Delhi?
Only if the landlord agrees in writing or your agreement allows it. As far as we could find, Delhi has not enacted a Model Tenancy Act-style law, so the rent agreement governs the deposit and its refund.
How is the UK 5-week deposit cap calculated?
Multiply the monthly rent by 12, divide by 52 to get a week’s rent, then multiply by 5 (or 6 if the annual rent is £50,000 or more). The security deposit calculator rounds down so the result never exceeds the cap.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
It depends on the law: 14 days in New York, 21 in California, 30 in many states, 45 in Virginia; on handover under India’s Model Tenancy Act; and within 10 days of agreeing the amount in England.
Do I get interest on my deposit?
Only where a law or your agreement says so — for example Massachusetts (5% or the bank’s lower rate), Ohio (5% on the excess) and accounts held for larger New York and Pennsylvania buildings.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a calculator with dated, sourced rules. Laws change and local rules can apply, so check the current law or ask a tenant-rights adviser before acting.