HB523 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul Beckman
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Landlord and tenant act, refunds of deposits, landlord obligation, termination of lease, abandonment of property and eviction procedures, further provided for, Secs. 35-9A-201, 35-9A-421, 35-9A-423 am'd.
Summary: HB523 tightens rules on security deposits, lease termination for noncompliance, and abandonment of rental property under the Uniform Landlord and Tenant Act.
What This Bill Does
It limits security deposits to at most one month's rent (with exceptions), requires itemized deductions within 60 days after tenancy ends, and allows forfeiture of unclaimed deposits after a set period. It sets specific notice and cure periods for lease termination due to tenant breaches (14 days for most breaches, 7 days for nonpayment) and identifies certain breaches as noncurable. It adds abandonment rules, allowing landlord entry during tenant absence, requiring efforts to re-rent, and permitting disposal of tenant belongings if left behind; abandonment can be indicated if electric service is cut off for seven consecutive days. It also requires landlords to mail refunds or accounting to the tenant’s forwarding address and makes successors in interest bound by these provisions.

Who It Affects
Tenants: protected by a cap on deposits, required itemized refunds within a set period, forwarding-address requirements, potential forfeiture of unclaimed deposits, and defined lease-termination and abandonment procedures.
Landlords (and their successors): must follow new deposit handling rules, provide timely refunds with itemized deductions, use specified notice periods for breaches, enforce noncurable defaults, and manage abandonment and re-renting processes.

Key Provisions
Security deposits capped at one month's rent, with exceptions for pets, premises changes, or higher liability risks.
Refunds and itemized deductions must be provided within a 60-day period after tenancy ends; a forwarding address must be provided by the tenant for refunds to be mailed.
If refunds or accounting are not mailed timely, the landlord must pay double the tenant's original deposit.
If the landlord delays for a breach of the rental agreement, a written notice to terminate is required (14 days for most breaches; 7 days for nonpayment of rent).
Noncurable defaults are listed (e.g., illegal drug use, firearm discharge, criminal assault), allowing termination without cure.
Abandonment rules: landlord may enter during tenant absence; must attempt to re-rent; abandonment can be shown if electric service is terminated for seven consecutive days; property left after termination may be disposed of without storage duties.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Property, Real and Personal