Kansas security deposit law provides landlords with a clear roadmap to avoid common issues, such as collecting the wrong amount, storing funds incorrectly, or disagreeing with tenants about damages.
This guide walks through every primary requirement, including allowable deposit amounts, proper storage, interest rules, valid deductions, return timelines, dispute procedures, and more.
Statutes Regulating Kansas Security Deposits
Kansas’s security deposit laws are set out in K.S.A. 58-2550 of the Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which outlines how landlords collect, store, and return security deposits.
Maximum Security Deposit Amounts Under Kansas Law
Kansas law sets clear limits on what landlords can collect. Landlords may request up to 1 month of rent for unfurnished units and up to 1.5 months of rent for furnished units. A separate pet deposit of up to half a month’s rent is allowed, and these limits apply regardless of lease type or contract length.
Kansas also allows an added pet deposit for animals that do not qualify as service or assistance animals. The state provides no other exceptions to these maximum amounts.
Security Deposit Storage Regulations
Kansas does not impose specific rules on how landlords must store security deposits, giving property owners flexibility to choose a method that works for their operations. The state does not require a separate account, interest payments, or written notice of where the deposit is kept, so landlords can manage these funds as they see fit.
Security Deposit Interest in Kansas
Kansas does not require landlords to use interest-bearing accounts for security deposits, and landlords do not need to pay tenants any interest on these funds.
Making Security Deposit Deductions
Security deposit deductions help landlords keep their rentals in good condition. Tenants sometimes default on rent or cause damage beyond normal wear and tear, and landlords rely on these funds to recoup their losses.
When Landlords Can Deduct
Kansas landlords may use a tenant’s security deposit for the following reasons:
- Repair costs for damage beyond normal wear and tear
- Unpaid rent that built up during the tenant’s lease term
- Cleaning charges to restore the unit beyond regular upkeep
- Costs to replace items that the tenant damaged or removed
- Expenses tied to lease violations that created financial loss
When Landlords Can’t Deduct
Kansas landlords may not use a tenant’s security deposit for the following reasons:
- Routine cleaning that fits standard turnover practices
- Repairs needed because of aging materials or expected deterioration
- Upgrades or improvements that increase the property’s value
- Costs unrelated to the tenant’s actions or occupancy
- Fees that the lease agreement does not authorize or support
Necessary Documentation to Accompany Deductions
Kansas landlords must provide tenants with an itemized written statement explaining each deduction taken from the security deposit. The law does not require landlords to include receipts or invoices, although tenants may request additional details to clarify charges.
What to Do When Deductions are Greater Than the Deposit
Some tenants leave damage or unpaid charges that go beyond the security deposit. When that happens, Kansas landlords should document the remaining costs, notify the former tenant about the balance owed, and request payment. Kansas law requires landlords to send the itemized statement within 30 days of move-out, but it does not set a specific deadline for collecting any remaining balance.
If landlords cannot recover the outstanding amount, they may file a claim through the Kansas small claims court.
Returning Security Deposits to Tenants
Kansas law sets clear rules for returning any remaining portion of a tenant’s security deposit after eligible deductions, helping landlords maintain a smooth, consistent move-out process.
Required Timeline for Return
Kansas landlords must return the refundable portion of the deposit within 30 days after the tenant moves out and hands back possession of the unit. Landlords must also provide an itemized written statement of deductions within the same 30-day period.
Method for Return
Kansas landlords may return the deposit by any reasonable method, such as mailing a check to the tenant’s last known address or sending them an electronic payment. When returning any portion of the deposit, landlords must include an itemized written statement explaining each deduction.
Penalties for Late Return
Kansas landlords who miss the 30-day deadline or fail to provide the required itemized statement may owe the tenant the amount wrongfully withheld plus 1.5 times that amount as a penalty. Courts may also award attorney fees or other damages when appropriate.
Security Deposit Disputes
Tenants may disagree with how a landlord handles their security deposit, and Kansas law allows them to raise a dispute. Tenants usually start by asking for clarification, reviewing the itemized deductions, and sharing their concerns. If the issue continues, they may seek mediation or take the matter to court.
As a landlord, prepare for potential disputes by using move-in and move-out checklist tools, staying on top of accounting and bookkeeping, and adding clear terms to all future lease agreements.
Using Condition Reports to Document Damage
Managing security deposits in Kansas becomes much simpler when landlords use thorough move-in and move-out condition reports that capture the unit’s condition at key moments, reduce disagreements, and provide landlords with clear documentation to support deductions.
Landlords can make this process even easier by using property management software to create digital reports with photos and videos directly from a smartphone. Strong documentation before move-in and after move-out supports a landlord’s decisions and makes security deposit deductions far more straightforward.
Sign up for a free TurboTenant account to streamline documentation and manage every detail with ease.
FAQs: Kansas Security Deposit Law
Can a landlord deduct painting from a security deposit in Kansas?
Kansas landlords may deduct painting costs only when a tenant leaves damage that goes beyond normal wear and tear. Routine touch-ups or natural aging do not qualify, but repainting due to heavy marks, stains, or intentional damage may justify a deduction.
Are nail holes considered normal wear and tear in Kansas?
Small nail holes generally count as normal wear and tear in Kansas, so landlords cannot deduct for them. Larger holes, wall anchors, or damage from improper mounting may fall outside everyday use, allowing landlords to deduct repair costs when the damage exceeds what is typically expected.
Does the landlord or tenant have to pay for carpet cleaning in Kansas?
Kansas landlords cannot deduct standard carpet cleaning from the security deposit because routine cleaning counts as normal turnover. If a tenant leaves excessive stains, pet damage, or conditions that fall outside normal use, the landlord may deduct the cost of restoring the carpet.
What happens if a landlord doesn’t return a security deposit within 30 days in Kansas?
Kansas landlords who miss the 30-day deadline for returning the deposit or providing the itemized statement may owe the tenant the amount wrongfully withheld plus 1.5 times that amount as a penalty. Courts may also award attorney fees or additional damages in some situations.
