Larry Landlord’s tenant, Tina, moved out without paying for her last month’s rent. She also took it upon herself to leave him with the parting gift of some of her least favorite pieces of furniture and her ex-boyfriend's weekend wardrobe. Larry collected a large security deposit that would cover the rent payment that she did not make along with the damages.

Q: Can Larry deduct the rent and damages from Tina's security deposit?

A: Yes, delinquent rent among other deductions are allowed in the state of California to aid landlords in making themselves whole after a tenant balks on the lease. For more information or clarification on how and when to account for the security deposit, please contact The Rad Firm at 213-908-5188. We can assist you in properly accounting for any delinquencies and following up on those debts that go beyond the bounds of the security deposit.

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