The Rent Security Deposit Act requires among other things that the landlord deposit the security deposit in a bank account that pays interest and that the landlord then give you notice within 30 days of the date that you give him or her the security deposit, of the name and address of the bank where the security deposit is being kept along with the amount of the deposit the type of account in which the money has been invested and the current rate of interest for that account. If the landlord does not give you notice within 30 days, the law allows you to request that he or she use the security deposit to pay your rent. The landlord must follow your instructions and apply the security deposit to your rent. The landlord cannot ask you for another security deposit for as long as you live in that apartment.

To get the landlord to apply your security deposit to the rent, you must:

1. Send to the landlord, a written notice in the form of a letter via certified mail return receipt requested.
2. Keep a copy of this letter for yourself.