The New York Times: More Renters Are Using Tools to Skip Security Deposits, but There’s a Catch

Millions of renters use the services. “They’re quite widespread,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior lawyer at the center and an author of the report. She added that the tools tended to be more common among large property managers than “mom and pop” landlords.

Alternative products, the report said, may skirt such protections. “Essentially, they are designed to provide landlords the benefits of the security deposit” while avoiding the costs of complying with tenant protection laws, Ms. Kuehnhoff said.