Apartment
hunting
SECURITY
DEPOSITS
Secure means "safe". Deposit means "something
you put somewhere". For example, you "deposit"
money or checks into a bank. What do you think "security
deposit" means?
A security deposit is money that you pay to the owner of the
apartment to hold until you move from that apartment. The
reason for the security deposit, which is usually the amount
of one month's rent, is to pay for anything broken in the
apartment at the time you move out. If you broke a window,
the owner will take money from this security deposit to pay
for the "damage" or broken things in the apartment.
If you do not have to give the owner money, you should get
your money back with interest (the amount that a bank gives
you when your deposit is put into a bank account). The security
deposit helps make sure that you will keep the property in
good shape but it also is like having money in the bank.
Do you have to pay a "security deposit" when you
rent an apartment in your country? What does an owner do if
you break something in the apartment? Does the owner have
to pay or the renter? Come to the Hosted Chat and tell us!