What was the deposit?
Record the amount, payment date, tenancy start date, and any separate first month’s rent or fees.
California / Security deposits
California’s deposit process is a sequence, not a single move-out date.
State law addresses the amount collected, a possible pre-move-out inspection, permitted deductions, photographs and supporting documents, and return of the remaining balance.
Build the record
Four questions before a conclusion.
Does an exception affect the limit?
Owner type, number of properties and units, and servicemember status can affect which deposit-limit branch applies.
Was an initial inspection offered?
Preserve the inspection notice, request, itemized statement, photographs, and proof of work completed before move-out.
What arrived after possession was returned?
Keep the itemized statement, refund, receipts, estimates, photographs, and the envelope or electronic delivery record.
What to preserve
Documents are easier to evaluate when the sequence is visible.
Primary authorities
Read the official California sources.
Security for a rental agreement
Primary state source for deposit limits, inspections, deductions, documentation, photographs, and return of the balance.
California Courts: Guide to security deposits
Official Judicial Branch guide explaining common deposit questions and options after a dispute.
California Department of Real Estate tenant guide
Official 2026 statewide guide to landlord-tenant responsibilities; secondary explanation rather than binding authority.
Coverage: California statewide residential rental information. This release does not determine a small-landlord exception, servicemember protection, local overlay, subsidized-housing rule, or the outcome of a particular dispute.