Security Deposit Accounts for Independent Landlords
A proper home for every deposit. And it pays interest.
DepositHive holds deposits in segregated, interest-bearing accounts, tracks your state's refund deadline, and prepares the itemized move-out statement your state requires. Landlords pay nothing to use it.2
Schedule A: Deposit Rules by State
Prepared July 2026 · Educational summary, not legal advice4
| Refund deadline after move-out, Texas | 30 days |
| Deposit interest owed to tenants | Generally no |
| Total deposits held | $10,800 |
| Estimated annual interest at 2.00% APY3 | $216 |
Principles of Custody
Five commitments, stated plainly
Segregation
Tenant deposits are held in segregated accounts, separate from DepositHive's own money, with every dollar tracked to its tenant and lease. Deposits are never lent or invested by us.1
Authorization
Funds move only on your instruction. Damage withdrawals require your itemized list of deductions; refunds require your confirmation or the arrival of your state's deadline. DepositHive cannot initiate a transfer on its own behalf.
Interest
Accounts bear interest. Where your state or city directs interest to tenants, we calculate and pay it to them. Where it does not, interest is paid to you.3 The applicable rule is stated on your account from day one.
Records
Every deposit, accrual, notice, and withdrawal is timestamped and retained. Your complete records are exportable at any time, in full, without asking us.
Continuity
Because funds sit in segregated accounts at regulated institutions rather than on our balance sheet, they are never ours to lose. If we ever closed our doors, every balance would be returned to its account holder.
From Move-In to Move-Out
What happens, in order
You send your tenant a payment request. The deposit is received directly into its segregated account. It does not pass through your checking account.
The deposit accrues interest. Your tenant can view a statement showing where the funds are held. Required state notices are prepared and recorded.
Your state's refund clock starts and we count it down for you. You itemize any deductions; we prepare the statement in your state's required form, disburse your withdrawal, and refund the balance to your tenant electronically, well before your state's deadline.
How We Make Money
How DepositHive is paid
Deposits held on the platform generate interest. We pass a stated rate through to whoever the law says it belongs to, and we retain the difference between that rate and what the balances earn. That spread is how we make our money.
It is why the fee schedule below reads the way it does, and why there is no premium tier. We consider it a fair trade: you get proper accounts, deadline tracking, and paperwork at no charge; we earn a margin for providing it. If that ever changes, it will be stated here first.
Schedule B: Fee Schedule
Effective July 2026 · All landlord accounts
| Service | Charge |
|---|---|
| Account opening | $0.00 |
| Monthly maintenance, per door | $0.00 |
| Deposit collection (ACH) | $0.00 |
| Deadline tracking & state notices | $0.00 |
| Move-out itemization preparation | $0.00 |
| Electronic refund to tenant | $0.00 |
| Interest tax documentation | $0.00 |
| Records export | $0.00 |
DepositHive earns an interest spread, described under How We Make Money above. There are no charges to landlords and no charges to tenants.2
Property management firms holding 100 or more doors: write to partner@deposithive.com.
Common Questions
Asked before opening an account
Is it legal to hold my tenants' deposits this way?
Holding deposits in segregated, interest-bearing accounts meets or exceeds what most states require of landlords. States with additional requirements, such as tenant interest, specific notices, or particular account structures, are handled by configuring your account to your state at opening. Schedule A above shows the rules that apply where you are.
Whose money is it while it's held?
Your tenant's. A security deposit is trust money: it belongs to the tenant, is held for your benefit as landlord, and sits in an account tied to your program rather than in DepositHive's operating funds. We never lend it or invest it. You authorize every movement.
A tenant damaged the unit. How quickly can I withdraw?
You file the itemized deduction, which we prepare with you in your state's required form. The withdrawal is disbursed electronically in days, and the remaining balance is refunded to your tenant automatically, inside your state's deadline.
What does my tenant see?
A statement: the amount held, where, and since when. At move-out, the itemization and refund status. Nothing about your other properties or finances. It also serves as written proof that you handled the deposit correctly.
Do I keep the interest?
In most states, yes. Where state or local law directs some or all interest to tenants, we calculate and route it to them automatically. Schedule A shows which rule applies in your state, and your account states it plainly from day one.
What happens to the funds if DepositHive closes?
Deposits sit in segregated accounts at regulated institutions, not on our balance sheet, so they are never ours to lose. If we ever closed, every balance would be returned to its account holder. Your records are exportable at any time, so nothing you rely on depends on us staying in business.
What about taxes?
Interest paid to you is taxable income, and we provide year-end interest tax documentation along with a complete export for your accountant. The deposit itself is not income to you while held, which is one more reason it should not sit in your checking account.
Get Started
Open an account
Tell us your state and the number of doors you manage. Setup takes about five minutes, and there is nothing for your tenants to download.
Account Request
Prefer email? help@deposithive.com
Property management firms: partner@deposithive.com