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 Nevada, residential landlords can require tenants to pay a security deposit as a condition of renting property. According to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 118A.242, the maximum amount of security deposit a landlord may require cannot exceed the equivalent of three months' periodic rent. Upon termination of the lease, the landlord is permitted to use the security deposit for cleaning, repairs, and unpaid rent, among other lawful charges. The landlord must provide an itemized accounting of the deductions from the security deposit, if any, and return any remaining portion of the deposit to the tenant. Nevada law requires that this process be completed within 30 days after the termination of the tenancy. If the landlord fails to return the security deposit or provide the itemized accounting within this time frame, the tenant may be entitled to recover the amount improperly withheld, and potentially additional damages.