Renters' Rights · Security Deposit
Security Deposit Laws in Kansas
The most a landlord can charge, how long they have to return it, and what it costs them to keep your money without cause in Kansas.
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What your landlord can hold, and when it's due back
Enter your rent for the Kansas maximum, plus the return-deadline clock.
Estimate only, based on Kansas's statutory cap. Your lease may set a lower deposit, and local ordinances can be stricter. Not legal advice.
The full rules, with the statute
Every requirement and where it comes from in the code.
Exceptions: Kansas sets a tiered cap in K.S.A. 58-2550(a). For an unfurnished dwelling the deposit cannot exceed one month's periodic rent. If the tenant uses furniture owned by the landlord, the cap rises to 1.5 months' rent. On top of either amount, if the lease permits pets the landlord may collect an additional pet deposit of up to half of one month's rent. So a furnished unit that allows pets can carry a deposit of up to 2 months' rent in total.
Penalties & recent changes
What happens if the landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully.
What Kansas renters get wrong
Kansas uses a tiered deposit cap that depends on whether your rental is furnished and whether you have a pet. Under K.S.A. 58-2550, the deposit for an unfurnished unit cannot exceed one month's rent, a furnished unit can run up to 1.5 months' rent, and a lease that allows pets adds an extra pet deposit of up to half a month's rent on top. That means a furnished, pet-friendly rental can carry a deposit of up to two months' rent. When the landlord keeps any part of your deposit, they must itemize the reasons in writing and return the balance within 14 days after setting the deductions, and never more than 30 days after you leave, hand back the keys, and ask for the money. If the landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit, you can recover what you are owed plus damages equal to 1.5 times the amount held back. Kansas does not require the landlord to pay interest or use a separate account.
Common questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Kansas?
It depends on the rental. For an unfurnished unit the cap is one month's rent. For a furnished unit it is 1.5 months' rent. If your lease allows pets, the landlord can add a pet deposit of up to half a month's rent, so a furnished unit with a pet can reach two months' rent total (K.S.A. 58-2550).
How long does a Kansas landlord have to return my deposit?
If the landlord keeps part of it, they must return the balance within 14 days after they figure the deductions, but never more than 30 days after the tenancy ends, you return possession, and you demand the deposit. If you do not demand it within 30 days, the landlord must mail it to your last known address.
What happens if my Kansas landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit?
You can recover the portion you are owed plus damages equal to 1.5 times the amount that was wrongfully withheld. The landlord must itemize any deductions in a written notice, so a deposit kept without that written breakdown is a warning sign.
Can I use my deposit for the last month of rent in Kansas?
No, unless your lease specifically allows it. If you try to apply the deposit to your last month or use it in place of rent, the statute says the deposit is forfeited and the landlord can still recover the rent as if you had never touched the deposit.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.