§ 34-18-19. Security deposits.
(a) A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit, however denominated, in an
amount or value in excess of one month's periodic rent.
(b) Upon termination of the tenancy, the amount of security deposit due to the tenant
shall be the entire amount given by the tenant as a security deposit, minus any amount
of unpaid accrued rent, the amount due, if any, for reasonable cleaning expenses,
the amount due, if any, for reasonable trash disposal expenses and the amount of physical
damages to the premises, other than ordinary wear and tear, that the landlord has
suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with § 34-18-24, all as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant. The
landlord shall deliver the notice, together with the amount of the security deposit
due to the tenant, within twenty (20) days after the later of either termination of
the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant's providing the landlord with a
forwarding address for the purpose of receiving the security deposit.
(c) If the landlord fails to comply with subsection (b), the tenant may recover the amount
due him or her, together with damages in an amount equal to twice the amount wrongfully
withheld, and reasonable attorney fees.
(d) This section does not preclude the landlord or tenant from recovering other damages
to which he or she may be entitled under this chapter.
(e) This section does not preclude any landlord who rents a furnished apartment from demanding
or receiving a furniture security deposit if the replacement value of the furniture
being furnished by the landlord valued at the time the lease is executed is five thousand
dollars ($5,000) or greater, in which instance the landlord may charge a separate
furniture security deposit of up to one month's periodic rent.
(f) Upon termination of the tenancy, the amount of furniture security deposit due to the
tenant shall be the entire amount given by the tenant as a furniture security deposit,
minus the amount due, if any, for reasonable cleaning expenses and repair and the
amount of physical damages to the furniture, other than ordinary wear and tear. The
landlord shall deliver the notice, together with the amount of the furniture security
deposit due to the tenant, within twenty (20) days after the later of either termination
of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant's providing the landlord with
a forwarding address for the purpose of receiving the furniture security deposit.
(g) In the event the landlord transfers his or her interest in the premises, the holder
of the landlord's interest in the premises at the time of the termination of the tenancy
is bound by this section.
(h) No rental agreement shall contain any waiver of the provisions of this section.