form for a tenant that wants to use the security deposit towards their rent

[Sami Gren]

HI,

I have a tenant that wants us to apply the security deposit towards a month and a half of their rent and due to circumstances we agreed to do that in order to help them, I was just wondering  if there is a specific form that I can have the tenants sign so we have it documented that they already used the deposit and they shouldn't be able to claim it when they move out?

Thank you.

[Nathan Brown]

A lot of knee-jerk reactions in here. You know your tenant and your business better than us. I personally have negotiated deposit forfeitures before for various reasons. The best way to do it is as mentioned above; verify it's a legal option in your jurisdiction, then if you're okay, write a simple addendum to the lease agreement. It doesn't have to be wordy. "All parties agree resident forfeits security deposit of $x." I think they may be entitled to any interest earned too in New Jersey, right?