12.6.3 Burden of Proof

A security deposit is the tenant’s property.1  Therefore, the burden of proof is on the landlord to show cause for the retention of the tenant’s deposit (property). In reality, however, a tenant’s success in recovering a security deposit depends heavily on the tenant’s ability to dispute the landlord’s retention with reliable evidence.

• 1In re Universal Sec. & Protection Serv., Inc., 223 B.R. 88, 93 (E.D. La. 1998); cf. La. C.C. art. 2926.