When you move into a place, it's normal to want to make it your own, by hanging pictures or even painting an accent wall cherry red. But when you're renting, you'd best remember: Any changes you make may be reversed by your landlord once you move out and with your money. That's why renters have to walk a fine line between making themselves feel at home and making changes that will cost them their security deposit.
"If you decide to paint the walls while you are there, you must return them to their original color or the landlord is within their rights to use the deposit to pay for it themselves," says Trent Zachmann of Renters Warehouse. He explains that many landlords treat modifications or improvements and accidental damages the same when it comes to taking money from your security deposit. "An owner can withhold all or part of the deposit to correct either type of issue," he says.
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