Deposits, explained.
Deposits sit where state law, accounting and the resident's experience meet. A guide to the alternatives, the law in every state, and the models side by side.
Security deposit alternatives, explained.
What counts as an alternative, the four models behind every product on the market, what each one does at move-out, and the questions to ask before you sign. Written for operators.
Security deposit laws, state by state.
Caps, return deadlines and interest rules for all 50 states and DC, on an interactive map with a page per state and the statute to check. Reviewed October 2026.
Deposits 101.
What a security deposit is for, the four legal models behind it, and what happens to the same $2,000 under each one. Eight minutes, no jargon.
Shorter reads on deposits, for both sides of the lease.
The security deposit is one promise wrapped in a lot of machinery. Here is what it costs residents and operators, and what a deposit management system changes.
Read the article →Your building may offer a way to move in without an upfront deposit. Here is how the options differ, what to ask, and what you are agreeing to.
Read the article →Where the money moves when an operator stops running cash deposits: move-in, administration, occupancy, risk and cost.
Read the article →Vacancy is the most expensive line on a multifamily budget. Five levers that move it, including the one at the leasing desk.
Read the article →A consumer law report and a New York Times story made the case against deposit alternatives in 2026. Most of it is fair. Here is how Standby is built on each point.
Read the article →Cincinnati, Atlanta, Columbus and Philadelphia each passed a version of renter's choice. The rules differ more than the name suggests. What they require, and what operators in those cities should check.
Read the article →How Standby stacks up.
Standby against cash deposits, surety bonds and deposit insurance, line by line, including where the other model fits better.