Renting with confidence: what landlords and tenants should agree up front
A written lease sets out the rent, the deposit, the notice period and who pays for what. If it is not written down, it is hard to prove later.
Do a joint move-in inspection with photographs. Both parties sign it, and it settles most deposit disputes before they start.
The deposit is held for the tenant and returned, less proven damage, after the move-out inspection, within the time the Rental Housing Act allows. Keep every receipt and every message.