I found a tenant who signed the lease and paid security deposit.

I also certified mailed the Move Out Condition Report and partial security deposit on the 21st day after vacating.

There are many alternatives you can use, I would urge you to check your local laws but I know here in Cleveland, OH we can charge an increased deposit or we can also require a guarantor (who can have different credit req. then someone living in the unit) It's important that no matter what you do you do it for everyone going forward, making exceptions for screening for some but not all can become a Fair Housing issue. 

I told them I would comply with all of this but they would lose their deposit and the tenant who is staying would need to replenish the initial deposit account.

I use a credit range for deposits.

After a tenant has been evicted in Washington County, MD, and there is still an outstanding balance even after applying the tenant’s security deposit, are my only options for collection limited to small claims court and utilizing a collection agency?

So, for a cash sale of $27,500 you might give an earnest money deposit of $1000 making that 5% fee $50. 

For example, I often see Buyers purchase property thinking there is a $1,000 deposit but then the tenant claims it was $2,000 because they paid the last month's rent.

Plus, they wouldn’t be able to charge extra rent or additional security deposits specifically for pets.Just a heads-up – these new rules wouldn’t apply to rental agreements signed before January 1, 2025.Where Are We in the Legislative Process?

Linwood Ave from Dave Koehn | PDF Attachment8/29/2016 - Received photos of 2021 Linwood Ave from Dave Koehn at Morris Invest8/29/2016 - Brian Freeman e-mails Dave Koehn of Morris Invest to take the Linwood property8/29/2016 - Nicole Meckley emails Brian purchase agreement8/30/2016 - Nicole Meckley emails Dan from Paramount Title9/7/2016 - Sale closing of Property9/12/2016 - Nicole Meckley sends me info for the cost to rehab; ($5,100) | Estimate Attachment | Wiring Instructions10/3/2016 - Nicole Meckley responds to Brian Freeman that the flip is now complete and they will send photos and start marketing the property;Note that the property never needed to be “marketed” as there was purportedly a tenant already in place at the time of sale of the property (see 12/13/2016 below)10/13/2016 - Nicole Meckley writes that the flip is complete and she only has a photo of the furnace because there’s a tenant in already;Note that if any rehab was done it was while there was a tenant occupying the property10/18/2016 - Nicole Meckley writes all of the contacts at Oceanpointe to start rent deposits;Note that Oceanpointe likely received and collected a month rent without remitting it to the new owner from closing date of 9/7/201610/31/2016 - I notify Morris Invest that I have already been cited by insurance for an improper dog breed;11/15/2016 - I write Clayton Morris that I never saw the before & after rehab photos; I ask for the lease paperwork.11/18/2016 - Bert Whalen tells me he will send me the photos personally;11/29/2016 - Nicole Meckley writes an email with photos after the flip that are of poor quality; she sends the repair estimate that states what was fixed; | Part 2 | Estimate11/29/2016 - Brian sends payment by wire via Wells Fargo $2,55012/13/2016 - I inform the Morris Invest team that I still do not have a copy of the lease;12/13/2016 - Clayton emails me a one page lease signed by a Kent Stork on 7/2/2016 (prior to my purchase of the property - I did not notice this at the time)Copy of lease4/17/17 I write to Clayton Morris informing him that the taxes doubled from the advertised taxes for the property;11/2/2017 - I write to Clayton informing him that I am being sued by the Marion County Health Department; | Copy of Summons and Complaint11/3/2017 I write to Clayton Morris asking if it’s normal to get sued by Marion County; he replies yes that his office handles it;11/3/2017 I write to Clayton Morris informing him that is was a surprise there were so many reported issues with the property;12/29/2017 - I inform Clayton / Oceanpointe that I was cited again and he tells me that they are working on it.