Most residential landlords require tenants to pay a security deposit to cover any repairs needed when the tenant moves out, or to cover the tenant’s failure to pay the last month's rent.

Laws vary from state to state, but many states have statutes that provide the maximum amount of security deposit a landlord may require for a residential lease and the costs for which the landlord may use the security deposit (cleaning, repairs, unpaid rent) following termination of the lease.

These laws also provide a specific deadline (often 30-60 days) for the landlord to return the tenant’s security deposit following termination of the lease—after deducting any amount properly withheld, as allowed by law.

In Kansas, the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act regulates security deposits for residential leases. Kansas state law limits the amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit to one month's rent for an unfurnished unit and one and a half month's rent for a furnished unit, with an additional half month's rent allowed if a pet is permitted on the premises (with some exceptions for service animals). After the termination of the lease, the landlord is required to return the security deposit within 30 days. The landlord may use the security deposit to cover unpaid rent, to repair damages to the property beyond normal wear and tear, and to clean the unit to restore it to the condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, except for ordinary wear and tear. If any portion of the deposit is withheld, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written statement itemizing the reasons for the retention of any portion of the security deposit. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in the landlord being liable to the tenant for damages.