Some states (CA for one) limits contractors to only take 10% or $1000 for deposit, whichever less. 

@Tammy Wise CLR is a very good hard water deposit remover but it's pretty caustic on the skin and don't spray it indoors unless you want to die!

I only have used it for receiving rent/security deposits and utility payments.

How the borrowers are vetted:1) Credit - we check whether he pays his bills and if he has some outstanding debts, liens or judgments2) Capability to Pay - we want the borrower to have SKIN in the game (at least 20%) and he deposits it in escrow; we also want to know how much income he makes in case the property does not sell in 6 months, will he be able to pay the monthly interest payments3) Character - we run a criminal background check4) Rehab experience - we ask for 5 HUD settlement statements to show the borrower has done deals beforeI don't have any defaults.

Asians tend to have more savings (to rent an apartment, for example, most people have to put down a deposit of $10,000 or more in Seoul.

They did, didn’t pay October rent, so kept security deposit instead.

However, in the end, they have a park manager, assistant park manager and office manager collecting rents, deposits, and writing receipts.

The only thing you are out is time and your earnest money deposit. 

I would say that if you have the property under contract and it's been signed and you have delivered earnest money for the property and  money has been deposited, then you have a legal right and interest in that property, did you bring the buyer and now the buyer and the seller are getting together, is that what's happening?

First, last, security deposit at move in....non-negotiable.