Security Deposits aren't your money...rents are.

@John Kim first of all many places won't allow taking security deposits to cover rent.

The landlord used the damage deposit and last months rent that was paid at move-in to cover the tenants rents for April and May.

He also has allowed tenants to apply the second month of their security deposit to their rent, meaning that the LL now is left holding only one month of security deposit, in a state where it takes at least two months to run a straightforward eviction for non-payment. 

If needing to find new tenants as well nice thing is that those that have been accepted are providing first months rent and security deposit at time of move in.

The owners receive the deposit money minus management fee by the end of Jan and the remainder when they check out. 

The auctioneer said "10% deposit of 25 cents, purchase price is $2.50" and apperently everyone had a good laugh over it.After paying back charges, attorneys fees, eviction, renovation, carrying, etc we sold it for $32,000 and made a total profit of $200 between 3 partners.

Safety hazards will have a set amount of time the owner has to repair and if they don't you should be able to break the lease and sue them for damages (usually 3x the deposit).

Let’s say we get a new construction and put 10k in earnest fee and we buy 20k of upgrades and put 10k in deposit for those.

Great summary, @Anton IvanovTo add some clarifying comments regarding the rules allowing for up to $100k 401k/IRA penalty-free distributions and up to $100k 401k loans:1) You have to qualify (i.e. your health or financial circumstances has been impacted by the virus in one of the enumerated ways)2) Your plan has to allow for such distributions/loans (i.e. employers don't have to allow it)3) The loan must be taken by 9/23/20204) The distribution must be taken by 12/31/20205) For distributions, you can Waive withholding requirement (typically 20% when taken from employer plan)6) For distributions, you may avoid the taxes if you deposit the funds in an eligible retirement plan (which includes anIRA) within "3 years and a day" of the date of the COVID-19 distribution (note: compare to a 60-day rollover).