Appearing in Forbes Advisor on June 8, 2026, Kristen Grau talks to NCLC Senior Attorney April Kuehnhoff about how some renters are turning to security deposit installment plans to lower move-in expenses, and how a new NCLC report finds these products can come with terms and fees that make them more expensive than traditional security deposits.
“Security deposit alternative products attempt to evade state laws designed to protect tenants. They are marketed as a helpful tool for renters struggling to raise the sizable fees required to move into a new apartment. But in reality, they’re just another way to extract profits from tenants with low incomes.”
April Kuehnhoff, senior attorney at NCLC
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