How Much Is an Apartment Security Deposit?
What's typical, what Texas law actually guarantees you, and our exact numbers.
Updated October 1, 2026
The short answer
Apartment security deposits typically run from a few hundred dollars up to one month's rent — Texas sets no legal cap, so each property decides. At Cranbrook Forest the deposit is $150 for a 1-bedroom and $250 for a 2-bedroom, flat — your credit score doesn't change it. Texas law requires it back within 30 days of move-out, minus only itemized damage and unpaid charges — never normal wear and tear.
What a deposit is actually for
The deposit isn't extra rent — it's collateral the property holds against two things: damage beyond normal wear, and money owed when you leave (unpaid rent, fees, or breaking the lease). Move out with the home in good shape and your account settled, and the deposit comes back. In Texas that refund is a legal right with a deadline: 30 days, with written itemization of anything withheld, as long as you've given your forwarding address in writing.
Protect yourself the boring way: photograph the unit on move-in day, note existing issues on the inventory form, and photograph again when you hand back the keys. Five minutes of photos settles almost every deposit disagreement before it starts.
Our numbers, published
Deposits here are flat and published: $150 on 1-bedrooms and townhomes, $250 on 2-bedrooms — against rents of $699–$1,204/mo. There's no doubled deposit here: a credit score of 550 or higher meets our credit requirement, and the deposit stays the same. Add the non-refundable application fee and first month's rent, and you can estimate your real move-in cost from our published criteria — no surprises at the leasing desk. Current move-in specials can lower that first check further.
Common Questions
- How much is a typical apartment security deposit?
- Commonly between a few hundred dollars and one month's rent, and Texas law sets no cap — it's the property's call. At Cranbrook Forest it's a flat $150 for 1-bedrooms and $250 for 2-bedrooms, no matter your credit score as long as it meets our 550 minimum.
- When do I get my security deposit back in Texas?
- Texas law (Property Code Chapter 92) requires the landlord to refund your deposit within 30 days after you move out, provided you gave a forwarding address. Deductions must be itemized in writing, and normal wear and tear can't be deducted.
- Is a security deposit the same as an application fee?
- No. The application fee pays for screening and is non-refundable everywhere. The security deposit is held against damage and unpaid rent, and is refundable when you move out in good standing.
- What's the difference between normal wear and damage?
- Wear is what living causes: faded paint, worn carpet paths, small nail holes. Damage is what accidents and neglect cause: broken blinds, large holes, stains, unreturned keys. In Texas, landlords may only deduct for damage and unpaid charges — never for normal wear and tear.
Move-In Costs You Can Do in Your Head.
$150–$250 deposits, rent from $699. Tour Mon–Sat and get the full number.
Mon–Fri 9AM–6PM | Sat 10AM–5PM