SB291 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Del Marsh
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: SB291 updates Alabama's Uniform Landlord and Tenant Act by limiting security deposits, clarifying refund procedures, and tightening lease termination and abandonment rules.
What This Bill Does
It caps security deposits at one month's rent (with certain exceptions) and requires itemized deductions and refunds within a defined period, with penalties for late refunds. It requires forwarding addresses and outlines how deposits and refunds are handled if the tenant moves out, including forfeiture timing for unclaimed deposits. It strengthens rules on lease termination for tenant breaches, defines noncurable defaults, and sets out abandonment and absence procedures, including landlord entry and disposal of abandoned property.

Who It Affects
Tenants: their security deposits are capped and must be refunded with itemized deductions within a set timeframe; they must provide a forwarding address; there are rules about what happens to unclaimed deposits and how abandonment affects their rights.
Landlords/Property Owners: must follow the deposit cap and refund procedures, provide itemized accounting, and follow specific termination and abandonment procedures, including notices, cure periods, and handling of abandoned property.

Key Provisions
Provision 1: Security deposits are capped at one month's rent (with exceptions for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks); deposits may be used to cover accrued rent and damages, must be itemized in a written notice, and refunds or withholding must occur within a defined period, with penalties for late refunds and a process for forwarding addresses and forfeiture of unclaimed deposits.
Provision 2: Termination and abandonment rules—landlords may terminate for material tenant breaches or noncompliance with a notice, with cure periods and limits on curing certain breaches; noncurable defaults are specified; the act also defines abandonment and absence procedures, including landlord entry rights and how abandoned property should be handled or disposed of.

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