Security Deposit
Money a tenant pays at move-in that the landlord holds as security against unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear. State and local laws commonly set limits on the amount, rules for how deposits are held, and deadlines for returning them with an itemized statement after move-out.
Related terms
Turnover
The process — and cost — of one tenancy ending and the next beginning: cleaning, repairs, repainting, marketing, showing, and screening, plus the rent lost while the unit sits empty in between. Turnover is one of the largest controllable costs in rental operations, which is why retention gets so much attention.
Tenant Screening
Evaluating rental applicants against consistent, written criteria — income verification, credit, rental history, references, and background checks where permitted. Consistency matters legally as well as practically: screening is subject to fair housing and consumer-reporting laws, so the same standards must apply to every applicant.
Eviction
The legal process by which a landlord regains possession of a rental unit, generally involving a formal written notice, a court filing, a hearing, and — if the landlord prevails — a court order enforced by an authorized official. Landlords cannot lawfully remove tenants themselves by changing locks or shutting off utilities. Notice periods, grounds, and timelines are set by state and local law and vary by jurisdiction.