Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 caps a residential security deposit at two months' rent during the first year and one month's rent in the second and later years. Deposits over $100 held more than two years must earn interest. The landlord must return the deposit with a written list of damages within 30 days of move-out.
Under 68 P.S. s 250.511a, "No landlord may require a sum in excess of two months' rent" as a deposit "during the first year of any lease," and "during the second and subsequent years of the lease... the amount required to be deposited may not exceed one month's rent." Section 250.511b requires that "all funds over one hundred dollars ($100)" held past the second anniversary be placed in an interest-bearing account, with the tenant receiving the interest annually starting in the third year (the landlord may keep a 1% per year administrative fee). Under 68 P.S. s 250.512, within 30 days of lease termination or surrender the landlord must give the tenant a written list of damages and pay back the balance of the escrow, including interest.
Under 68 P.S. s 250.512, a landlord who fails to provide the written list and refund within 30 days "shall forfeit all rights to withhold any portion" of the deposit and "shall be liable in assumpsit to double the amount" wrongfully withheld above the actual damages.
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