How much deposit can the landlord ask for?
Conditional: the deposit has no legal cap — it's customary. No law sets a ceiling; 1–2 months' rent is customary (courts may treat far above 2 months as abusive via good faith, but that's case-law, not statute). The deposit is not rent — you generally can't "live it out" as the last months' rent unless agreed. It's returned within a reasonable time after you've paid all rent/charges and returned the property, allowing for normal wear and tear. Permitted deductions: unpaid rent, unpaid utilities/common charges, proven damage beyond normal wear (the burden is on the landlord). In short: no cap, but return with only justified deductions.
📋 The rules
- No legal cap — custom 1–2 months' rent
- Deposit ≠ rent (not a last-months' rent)
- Return within a reasonable time after handover
- Allowance for normal wear and tear
- Deductions: debts/damage (landlord proves)
🔓 Exceptions
- Early departure/breach: retention for the loss
- Unjustified delay in return: default interest
- Amount far above 2 months: possibly abusive (case-law)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There are no administrative fines — deposit disputes are private civil claims (a formal notice, then court; small claims at the Magistrate's Court up to €20,000). If the landlord unjustifiably delays the return, the tenant can claim default interest. Beware myths: "the law caps the deposit at 2 months" — wrong (custom only); "use the deposit as the last month's rent" — generally wrong (without agreement); "the landlord must return within 30 days" — not a Greek rule (a US/UK rule confused for Greece; Greece uses "reasonable time"). To protect yourself: agree the amount in writing, keep payment receipts and photos of the property's condition, and request the return via a formal notice if it's delayed.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How much deposit can the landlord ask for?
There's no legal cap. In practice one or two months' rent is usually asked. A much larger amount, e.g. over two months, may be ruled abusive by the courts on good-faith grounds, but that comes from case-law, not an explicit statute.
When is the deposit returned to me?
The deposit is returned within a reasonable time, after you've paid all rent and charges and returned the property. The landlord must allow for normal wear and tear. There's no 30-day rule in Greece; that's a confusion with other countries' rules.
Can I skip the last rent and let the deposit cover it?
Generally no, unless you've agreed it. The deposit isn't advance rent but security for debts or damage. Without agreement, the tenant still owes the last month's rent, while the deposit is returned separately after the property is handed back.
What can the landlord deduct?
The landlord can deduct from the deposit unpaid rent, owed common charges or bills, and proven damage beyond normal wear. The burden of proof is on the landlord. Normal wear and tear from ordinary use isn't deducted.
What do I do if they don't return the deposit?
If the landlord unjustifiably delays, you can request the return via a formal notice and, if needed, go to court, e.g. the Magistrate's Court small-claims procedure. For an unjustified delay you can also claim default interest.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “rental deposit amount”
- “return rental deposit”
- “deposit as last rent”
- “deposit deductions damage”
- “deposit 2 months law”
- “normal wear and tear rental”