The security deposit is one of the most disputed items when a tenancy ends: the tenant says the unit was handed back in good condition, the landlord says there is damage worth deducting. This page sets out what the residential lease model published on the Ejar platform says about the deposit and its return, and the evidence any deduction debate is built on, as part of the real estate and rental materials on Hala Law.

What the Ejar lease model says about the deposit

The published residential lease model sets out these baseline rules:

| Issue | What the model states | | --- | --- | | Deposit amount | Agreed between the parties — no uniform figure is imposed in the published model | | Return deadline | Within 30 days of vacating the unit | | What may be deducted | Amounts due for damage caused by the tenant | | The remainder | Returned to the tenant |

Note that the rule has three parts: a fixed time window (30 days from move-out), a single deduction ground in the model's wording (damage caused by the tenant), and an obligation to return the balance. A deduction outside that frame becomes a matter of dispute and proof between the parties.

Where disputes usually start

Deposit disputes rarely turn on the rule itself — they turn on facts: was the scratch on the wall damage caused by the tenant, or was it there at move-in? Does the claimed repair cost actually match the damage? The party who documented the unit's condition at move-in and at move-out is in a clearer position when the dispute is presented, whatever the outcome.

The published model does not spell out the boundary between normal wear and damage; assessing that in a specific case remains a question of evidence that varies from one situation to another.

The evidence file: what to keep

Based on the documented practice in this file's source material, these are the main evidence items in deposit-recovery claims:

| Evidence item | What it establishes | | --- | --- | | Handover report at the start of the lease | The agreed original condition of the unit | | Photos and video at move-in | Independent record of the initial state | | Photos and video at move-out | The comparison against the move-in condition | | Maintenance receipts or invoices | What was repaired during the lease, and at whose expense | | Key-handover report | The actual vacating date from which the 30-day window runs | | Proof of full payment of rent and utilities | Rules out other balances being mixed into the deposit | | Correspondence requesting the deposit | The claim, its date, and the other party's response |

If the deposit is not returned within the window

If the window passes without the money coming back, or with a deduction the tenant considers unjustified, the matter becomes a rental dispute handled through the usual routes. Choosing the right route — and preparing the documents it needs — is covered in Real-Estate Disputes: Where and How Claims Are Filed. It also helps to re-read the documented contract itself first, since the contract is the reference for the deposit's amount and terms.

Where the deposit dispute is tangled with a wider disagreement — an early end to the lease, or maintenance claims — the pages on early lease termination and tenant maintenance rights set out the general frame for each issue.

When do you need a licensed lawyer?

The information here is a general frame built on the published lease model, not an assessment of any specific case. The matter becomes a private case calling for a licensed lawyer or accredited adviser when:

  • The dispute is about proving the damage and its value — a question of assessment and evidence, not one general rule.
  • Your documented contract contains deposit clauses that differ from the model's wording and need careful reading.
  • The deposit claim is tangled with cross-claims — unpaid rent, damage, utility bills — each needing its own proof.
  • The dispute is heading toward a formal claim or filing and the right route needs to be diagnosed before starting.

In those situations, the competent authority weighs the facts and documents, and each party's position rests on the proof it presents.