Pennsylvania Security Deposit Interest Calculator
This free Pennsylvania security deposit interest calculator determines exactly how much interest your landlord owes you under Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.2.
Security Deposit Details
Enter your original deposit amount and move-in date to calculate interest owed under Pennsylvania law.
Leave blank to use the default estimate of 1.5%. Actual interest earned on the escrow account (estimated 1.5% APY).
Note: Under Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.2, interest only begins accruing after 24 months of tenancy. If your tenure is shorter, no interest is owed yet.
How Security Deposit Interest Works in Pennsylvania
Deposit Details
Enter deposit amount and move-in date for calculation.
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Your Claim
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Pennsylvania Deposit Interest Rules
Legal basis: Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act § 511.2. Last verified: 2026-05-25.
Key Details for Pennsylvania
How Pennsylvania Security Deposit Interest Works
Pennsylvania's deposit interest rules have a unique feature: a 24-month waiting period. Under 68 P.S. § 250.511.2, landlords are not required to pay any interest on the security deposit during the first two years of tenancy. Interest only begins accruing after the tenant has been in the unit for 24 months.
After the 24-month threshold is met, the tenant is entitled to interest at the actual rate earned by the escrow account where the deposit is held. The landlord may retain a 1% annual administrative fee from the interest earned — similar to New York's structure. Our calculator estimates the bank rate at 1.5% APY when the actual rate is unknown.
The deposit must be held in an escrow account at a federally or state-regulated institution. Failure to return the deposit with accrued interest within 30 days of lease termination may expose the landlord to double (2×) damages under 68 P.S. § 250.512.
Example: PA Deposit Interest (After 24 Months)
Your deposit is $1,500 and you've been in the unit for 3 years (36 months). The bank pays an estimated 1.5% APY.
Your landlord owes you $1,507.50. The 24-month waiting period means interest only accrued for the final year of your tenancy, and the 1% admin fee further reduces the payout.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does interest start on a Pennsylvania security deposit? ▼
After 24 months (2 years) of continuous tenancy. During the first 24 months, the landlord has no obligation to pay any interest. Once the 24-month threshold is met, interest accrues at the actual bank rate going forward.
What is the interest rate on security deposits in Pennsylvania? ▼
The rate is the actual interest earned by the escrow account where the deposit is held — not a fixed statutory rate. Our calculator estimates 1.5% APY when the actual rate is unknown. The landlord may retain 1% annually as an administrative fee, so the net rate to the tenant is typically modest.
Can my Pennsylvania landlord deduct an administrative fee from the interest? ▼
Yes. Under § 250.511.2, the landlord may retain 1% per year of the deposit amount as an administrative fee, deducted from the interest earned. This is similar to New York's 1% admin fee structure.
What are the penalties for Pennsylvania deposit violations? ▼
Under 68 P.S. § 250.512, failure to return the deposit with accrued interest within 30 days of lease termination may entitle the tenant to double (2×) damages — meaning twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
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