PG Security Deposit Rules: Can a Landlord Keep Your Money After You Vacate? Know Your Rights as a Tenant
Moving out of a paying guest (PG) accommodation should normally be a simple process. You clear your rent, return the keys, vacate the room and receive your security deposit back. But in reality, many tenants face a different situation. The landlord delays the refund, makes unexplained deductions or sometimes refuses to return the deposit altogether. This can be particularly stressful for students and working professionals, who may need the money to pay the deposit for their next accommodation. So, what are your rights when you leave a PG? Can a landlord legally keep your security deposit? And what should you do if your money is not returned? Here is what tenants should know. A Security Deposit Is Not Automatically the Landlord's Money A security deposit is generally collected as protection against certain financial obligations under the rental or PG arrangement. It is not simply an additional payment that the landlord can keep whenever a tenant leaves. The exact rules depend on the...