§521-44 Security deposits. (a) As
used in this section "security deposit" means money deposited by or
for the tenant with the landlord to be held by the landlord to:
(1) Remedy tenant defaults for accidental or
intentional damages resulting from failure to comply with section 521-51, for
failure to pay rent due, or for failure to return all keys, including key fobs,
parking cards, garage door openers, and mail box keys, furnished by the
landlord at the termination of the rental agreement;
(2) Clean the dwelling unit or have it cleaned at the
termination of the rental agreement so as to place the condition of the
dwelling unit in as fit a condition as that which the tenant entered into
possession of the dwelling unit;
(3) Compensate for damages caused by a tenant who
wrongfully quits the dwelling unit;
(4) Compensate for damages under subsection (b)
caused by any pet animal allowed to reside in the premises pursuant to the
rental agreement; and
(5) Compensate the landlord for moneys owed by the
tenant under the rental agreement for utility service provided by the landlord
but not included in the rent.
(b) The landlord may require, as a condition
of a rental agreement, a security deposit to be paid by or for the tenant for
the items in subsection (a) and no others in an amount not in excess of a sum
equal to one month's rent, plus an amount agreed upon by the landlord and
tenant to compensate the landlord for any damages caused by any pet animal
allowed to reside in the premises pursuant to the rental agreement; provided
that the additional security deposit amount for a pet animal under this
subsection:
(1) Shall not be required:
(A) From any tenant who does not have a pet
animal that resides in the premises; or