Security deposit interest in Idaho
No — Idaho does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits.
There is no interest to calculate — here is what does apply
Idaho sets no interest requirement, so there is no figure to work out. The rules below are the ones that decide whether you get your deposit back in full, which is usually the larger sum anyway.
Deadline to return your deposit
21 days after the tenancy ends.
Miss it and the consequences below start to apply.
What to do next
- Give your landlord a written forwarding address. Several states make the return duty conditional on it, and Idaho's rules are summarised below.
- Photograph the unit at move-out, dated, before you hand back the keys. The dispute is almost always about condition.
- If the deadline passes, put the request in writing and cite Idaho Code Sec. 6-321. Keep a copy of what you sent and when.
Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice. Security deposit laws change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify with the cited statute or consult a licensed attorney in your state before taking action.
What does Idaho law actually say?
Idaho does not require landlords to pay interest on residential security deposits. The statute contains no interest provision and there is no statutory cap on the deposit amount. Any amount a tenant deposits with a landlord for a purpose other than paying rent is deemed a security deposit.
On termination and surrender of the premises the landlord must refund the deposit except for amounts needed to cover contingencies specified in the deposit arrangement, and may not retain anything for normal wear and tear, meaning deterioration from the intended use of the unit without negligence, carelessness, accident, misuse or abuse by the tenant, their household or guests. Refunds are due within 21 days if no time is fixed by agreement, and in any event within 30 days of surrender. Any refund less than the full deposit must be accompanied by a signed statement itemising the amounts retained, the purpose for each, and a detailed list of expenditures made from the deposit.
Where the property changes ownership during a tenancy the new owner is liable for the refund. A separate account at a federally insured institution is required only where a third-party manager holds the deposit, and that requirement does not apply to the property owner, managers sharing common principals with the owner entity, real estate licensees, or nonprofit organisations.
What if your landlord does not comply?
No interest obligation, so no interest penalty. General remedies under the chapter apply, including the treble damages provision at Section 6-317 and the attorney fees provision at Section 6-324. Failure to provide the itemised signed statement with a partial refund leaves the retention open to challenge.