Tenant’s Deposit

I just bought a house and I am renting out two apts. One apt is now occupied. The other apt is not occupied because the lady who signed the lease told one day before she was supposed to move in that she will not have the rent for another two to three weeks into the month. I told her that it would not be acceptable and that if she is having trouble paying the rent this early in the game, then may be this is not a good fit. I would need to find another tenant. She gave a deposit the day she signed about three weeks before the move in date. After she signed the lease, i turned down four people who wanted the apt. I told her she may get the full deposit if I get a new tenant before the end of the month. If not I have no choice but to keep the whole deposit. Is that legally right?

By africangirl |