California Security Deposits exam 2026
questions and rationales answers
1. Under California law, what is the general maximum security deposit a landlord may charge
for an unfurnished residential property?
A. One month’s rent
B. One month’s rent
C. Two months’ rent
D. Three months’ rent
Rationale: California generally limits residential security deposits to one month’s rent.
2. For a furnished residential rental, what is the general maximum security deposit?
A. One month’s rent
B. One month’s rent
C. Two months’ rent
D. Three months’ rent
Rationale: Current California law generally applies a one-month limit to both furnished and
unfurnished residential units, subject to statutory exceptions.
3. Which of the following is a legally permitted use of a security deposit?
A. Paying the landlord’s mortgage
B. Paying ordinary business expenses
C. Covering unpaid rent
D. Increasing the landlord’s profit
Rationale: Security deposits may be used for specified purposes, including unpaid rent.
4. A landlord may generally use a security deposit to repair:
A. Normal wear and tear
B. Damage caused by the tenant beyond ordinary wear and tear
C. Any aging of the property
D. All routine maintenance
Rationale: Tenants are responsible for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, not normal
aging.
5. Which is another permitted use of a security deposit?
A. Advertising another property
,B. Cleaning the rental unit when necessary to return it to the same level of cleanliness it had
at move-in
C. Paying property taxes
D. Paying utilities for the landlord’s residence
Rationale: Necessary cleaning may be deducted when legally justified.
6. A landlord may deduct from a security deposit for:
A. Normal depreciation
B. Repair of tenant-caused damage beyond ordinary wear and tear
C. Remodeling the property for resale
D. Routine improvements
Rationale: Deductions must be tied to legally permitted expenses.
7. What should a landlord provide to a tenant regarding security-deposit deductions?
A. No documentation
B. An itemized statement of deductions
C. A new lease
D. A property appraisal
Rationale: California requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
8. California landlords generally must return the remaining security deposit within:
A. 7 days
B. 14 days
C. 21 days after the tenant vacates
D. 60 days
Rationale: California generally requires return of the remaining deposit within 21 calendar days
after the tenant vacates.
9. If deductions are made, the landlord generally must provide:
A. Only a verbal explanation
B. An itemized statement describing the deductions
C. A new rental agreement
D. A tax return
Rationale: The tenant is entitled to an accounting of deductions.
10. Which expense generally cannot be charged against a tenant’s security deposit?
A. Unpaid rent
B. Tenant-caused damage
, C. Necessary cleaning
D. Normal wear and tear
Rationale: A security deposit cannot ordinarily be used to charge the tenant for normal wear
and tear.
11. Which is an example of normal wear and tear?
A. Broken doors from intentional damage
B. Large holes punched in walls
C. Minor carpet wear from ordinary use
D. Missing appliances
Rationale: Ordinary deterioration from normal use is generally wear and tear.
12. Which is most likely considered tenant-caused damage?
A. Faded paint from sunlight
B. Minor carpet wear
C. A large hole punched in a wall
D. Aging plumbing
Rationale: Intentional or negligent physical damage beyond ordinary wear and tear may justify
a deduction.
13. A landlord should generally determine deductions based on:
A. The landlord’s desired profit
B. The reasonable cost of necessary repairs or cleaning
C. The property’s original purchase price
D. The tenant’s income
Rationale: Deductions should correspond to permissible and reasonable expenses.
14. A landlord who deducts money from a deposit for repairs should generally:
A. Keep the entire deposit
B. Provide an itemized statement of deductions
C. Wait until the property is sold
D. Charge the tenant twice
Rationale: California requires an accounting of deductions.
15. The security deposit belongs to:
A. The landlord permanently
B. The tenant, subject to lawful deductions
questions and rationales answers
1. Under California law, what is the general maximum security deposit a landlord may charge
for an unfurnished residential property?
A. One month’s rent
B. One month’s rent
C. Two months’ rent
D. Three months’ rent
Rationale: California generally limits residential security deposits to one month’s rent.
2. For a furnished residential rental, what is the general maximum security deposit?
A. One month’s rent
B. One month’s rent
C. Two months’ rent
D. Three months’ rent
Rationale: Current California law generally applies a one-month limit to both furnished and
unfurnished residential units, subject to statutory exceptions.
3. Which of the following is a legally permitted use of a security deposit?
A. Paying the landlord’s mortgage
B. Paying ordinary business expenses
C. Covering unpaid rent
D. Increasing the landlord’s profit
Rationale: Security deposits may be used for specified purposes, including unpaid rent.
4. A landlord may generally use a security deposit to repair:
A. Normal wear and tear
B. Damage caused by the tenant beyond ordinary wear and tear
C. Any aging of the property
D. All routine maintenance
Rationale: Tenants are responsible for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, not normal
aging.
5. Which is another permitted use of a security deposit?
A. Advertising another property
,B. Cleaning the rental unit when necessary to return it to the same level of cleanliness it had
at move-in
C. Paying property taxes
D. Paying utilities for the landlord’s residence
Rationale: Necessary cleaning may be deducted when legally justified.
6. A landlord may deduct from a security deposit for:
A. Normal depreciation
B. Repair of tenant-caused damage beyond ordinary wear and tear
C. Remodeling the property for resale
D. Routine improvements
Rationale: Deductions must be tied to legally permitted expenses.
7. What should a landlord provide to a tenant regarding security-deposit deductions?
A. No documentation
B. An itemized statement of deductions
C. A new lease
D. A property appraisal
Rationale: California requires an itemized statement when deductions are made.
8. California landlords generally must return the remaining security deposit within:
A. 7 days
B. 14 days
C. 21 days after the tenant vacates
D. 60 days
Rationale: California generally requires return of the remaining deposit within 21 calendar days
after the tenant vacates.
9. If deductions are made, the landlord generally must provide:
A. Only a verbal explanation
B. An itemized statement describing the deductions
C. A new rental agreement
D. A tax return
Rationale: The tenant is entitled to an accounting of deductions.
10. Which expense generally cannot be charged against a tenant’s security deposit?
A. Unpaid rent
B. Tenant-caused damage
, C. Necessary cleaning
D. Normal wear and tear
Rationale: A security deposit cannot ordinarily be used to charge the tenant for normal wear
and tear.
11. Which is an example of normal wear and tear?
A. Broken doors from intentional damage
B. Large holes punched in walls
C. Minor carpet wear from ordinary use
D. Missing appliances
Rationale: Ordinary deterioration from normal use is generally wear and tear.
12. Which is most likely considered tenant-caused damage?
A. Faded paint from sunlight
B. Minor carpet wear
C. A large hole punched in a wall
D. Aging plumbing
Rationale: Intentional or negligent physical damage beyond ordinary wear and tear may justify
a deduction.
13. A landlord should generally determine deductions based on:
A. The landlord’s desired profit
B. The reasonable cost of necessary repairs or cleaning
C. The property’s original purchase price
D. The tenant’s income
Rationale: Deductions should correspond to permissible and reasonable expenses.
14. A landlord who deducts money from a deposit for repairs should generally:
A. Keep the entire deposit
B. Provide an itemized statement of deductions
C. Wait until the property is sold
D. Charge the tenant twice
Rationale: California requires an accounting of deductions.
15. The security deposit belongs to:
A. The landlord permanently
B. The tenant, subject to lawful deductions
