Quick answer: Kansas caps a security deposit at one month’s rent for an unfurnished unit and at one and a half months’ rent for a furnished unit, and lets a landlord add up to half a month’s rent when the tenant is allowed to keep pets.
This Kansas security deposit limit calculator applies K.S.A. 58-2550(a). Say whether the unit is furnished and whether pets are allowed, enter the rent and the total the landlord asks for: it shows the cap and whether the deposit is over it. It does not check a lease or a subsidy program.
Kansas security deposit rules at a glance
| Rule | What Kansas says |
|---|---|
| Unfurnished unit | No more than one month’s periodic rent (K.S.A. 58-2550(a)) |
| Furnished unit | No more than 1½ months’ rent when the tenant uses the landlord’s furniture (58-2550(a)) |
| Pets | An additional deposit of up to one-half of one month’s rent if pets are permitted (58-2550(a)) |
| Subsidized housing | A municipal housing authority may use a schedule by unit size, with a payment plan (58-2550(a)) |
| Refund | Itemized notice and balance within 14 days of working out deductions, never over 30 days after a demand (58-2550(b)) |
| Penalty | The deposit due plus 1½ times the amount wrongfully withheld (58-2550(c)) |
| Last month’s rent | The tenant may not use the deposit as rent unless the lease allows it (58-2550(d)) |
| New owner | Bound at termination (58-2550(f)) |
How does the Kansas deposit law work?
- The cap and how it grows. See the maximum security deposit in Kansas.
- Pet deposits and fees. See Kansas pet deposits and fees.
- First and last month and other up-front charges. See up-front charges when renting in Kansas.
What does this deposit calculator check?
It starts from one month’s rent, raises the base to one and a half months if you say the unit is furnished, and adds up to half a month if pets are allowed, then compares the total you enter. Add every payment the landlord holds as security, whatever it is called, and ask for the total in writing, because the cap applies to the sum. It does not say what a court would do with a deposit over the cap, because the section is silent on that. If the total is over the cap, ask the landlord in writing to explain each payment and keep its answer with the lease; if you rent through a subsidy program, check that program’s own rules too. When the deposit must come back is a separate question: see the Kansas security deposit return deadline calculator.
Examples of the Kansas deposit cap
| Monthly rent | Unit | Cap | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | Unfurnished, no pets | $1,000 | One month |
| $1,000 | Unfurnished, pets allowed | $1,500 | One month plus half a month |
| $1,000 | Furnished, no pets | $1,500 | One and a half months |
| $1,000 | Furnished, pets allowed | $2,000 | Two months |
These examples show the arithmetic. They are not statements about a particular lease or landlord.
Related Kansas landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Kansas security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the Kansas eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end and the Kansas eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Kansas statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum security deposit in Kansas?
One month’s rent for an unfurnished unit, 1½ months for a furnished unit, plus up to half a month if pets are allowed.
Can a Kansas landlord charge a pet deposit?
Yes, an additional deposit of up to one-half of one month’s rent if the agreement allows pets.
Is there an exception for subsidized housing?
A municipal housing authority may use a schedule based on bedroom size, with a payment plan.
Can a tenant use the deposit as the last month’s rent?
Not unless the rental agreement says so; doing so forfeits the deposit.
When must the deposit be refunded?
Within 14 days of working out deductions, and never over 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant demands it.
Does a landlord pay interest on a deposit in Kansas?
The deposit section does not mention interest.