Travis County Property Managers & Roommate Security Deposits

As if leasing to roommates isn't hard enough for Travis County property managers to handle, you have to throw in the security deposit into the mix. The security deposit itself isn't really an issue. It is what it is. You have a specific amount of money required up front before any tenant can move in to a property, and that's the end of it.

While each roommate may pay your property manager in Travis County a portion (or his part) of the security deposit, the entire amount has to be paid before any of the roommates can move in. The problem occurs when it's time for the roommates to move out and they want the security deposit returned split up. So, what should you do?

The answer is actually simpler than what it appears to be...you give the security deposit back as one check. It doesn't matter if all of the roommates have told your Travis County property managers in person that they are in agreement that separate checks works best. You should still only give one check back made payable to all of them. There are a couple reasons why this is a good policy for all Travis County property management professionals to follow.

1. Unknown Circumstances - First, you have no idea what the individual circumstances are between the roommates. What happens if one roommate didn't actually pay his portion of the security deposit and another roommate covered for him? If your Travis County property managers give the security deposit back in separate checks, one roommate will be slighted.
   
   
2. Damages - Another consideration your property managers Travis County should think about are the damages (if any) that have occurred to the property while the roommates were living there. When your manager deduct the cost of the damages from the security deposit, how are they going to determine which roommates are responsible for the damages and which ones should receive their entire portions back? It's much easier just to give one check to all the roommates and let them disburse it among themselves.

While you are free to treat security deposits with roommates however you want, you should be able to see from the reasons above how it may be easier to keep the security deposit together on one check when returning it.