Table of Contents
- 1 How I Got a Security Deposit from my Landlord
- 1.1 Why someone wants a security deposit
- 1.2 Ask for one from your landlord and be prepared to give them a good reason for approving it.
- 1.3 If your landlord disagrees, try negotiating with them and find out what their concerns are
- 1.4 If all else fails, go ahead without the security deposit – you can always come back later if necessary.
How I Got a Security Deposit from my Landlord
I convinced my landlord to give me a security deposit. He thought about it for a few days, then agreed. I took the time to explain how it would be unlikely for me to break his house since I was an adult who lived with my parents, and I have a good job that I could afford to pay him back.
Why someone wants a security deposit
You want a security deposit to help protect the landlord from you breaking their house. You usually can’t afford to pay for the repairs if you break them, so it will help protect the landlord. It also helped me to say that I was an adult who lived with my parents and had a good job, which means I would be able to pay him back if he needed it.
Ask for one from your landlord and be prepared to give them a good reason for approving it.
If you are an adult living with your parents or guardian, have a good job, or are otherwise financially responsible, now is the time to ask for your security deposit back. You want this money now because landlords can legally keep it in their possession until you leave the property if they have not returned it in advance. You’re asking for them to trust that you will take care of their stuff when that might be very difficult if something unfortunate were to happen involving the parties involved.
Tip: Landlords often require tenants who live with grown-up children or legal guardians to have renters insurance instead of asking for deposits.
If your landlord disagrees, try negotiating with them and find out what their concerns are
If a landlord doesn’t agree to a security deposit, you should try negotiating with them. Find out what their concerns are and try to come up with a compromise. Sometimes landlords will offer other things at first but might be willing to provide a security deposit if you can show them that it’s not possible or desirable for your situation.
If all else fails, go ahead without the security deposit – you can always come back later if necessary.
If your landlord doesn’t want to give you a security deposit, they may change their minds later. If they don’t, then do it without it. Or don’t worry about it and come back later if you need to.
Summary
To get a security deposit from your landlord, you should try to be as convincing as possible. Explain how unlikely it is for you to break the house and how you would be able to pay them back if necessary. If your landlord disagrees, try negotiating with them until you reach a compromise. If all else fails, go ahead without the security deposit and come back later if necessary.