SECURITY DEPOSIT. Lessor or Listing Firm will give written notice of any change in said depository. This deposit is security for performance of Tenant’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to payment of rent, and to indemnify Lessor for damages to and cleaning of the Property for which Tenant is responsible.
A written "Move In/Move Out Inspection Agreement" describing the condition and cleanliness of and any damage to the Property and furnishings will be signed by Lessor or Listing Firm and Tenant upon commencement of tenancy and a written copy given to Tenant. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT MAY BE COLLECTED UNLESS THIS CHECKLIST IS COMPLETED.
你要收holding deposit, which is non-refundable, 如果他反悔的话。
跟房客讲清楚，it's holding deposit, not security deposit. Holding deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to security deposit upon move-in. 我收一个月的租金做为holding deposit，有点高，但也是为了保护自己。
10/1 holding deposit agreement: 1 month deposit in exchange of holding the unit for first renter.
10/31 candidate don't show up. landlord re-advertise.
(1) new tenant moves in before 11/31, landlord should return half of the pro-rated deposit to first renter.
The holding desposit is compensating your rental loss IF THE FIRST RENTER DIDN"T SHOW UP. Your 10/1-10/31 vacancy are not lost rent because you already agreed to give it up to wait for the first renter.
(2) 11/31 and afterwards, landlord can keep all the deposit.
例子：10月1日，房东与租客签了为期一年的租房合同，合同从11月1日开始到第二年的10月31日止。入住前一天（即10月31日）晚上，做入住检查和交接钥匙之后，收取第一个月房租及等同于一个月房租的押金（security deposit）。
在签约和入住之间的这一个月里，如果租户拖到合同前一天改变主意不租了，房东就损失了一个月的广告时间，房子得重新招租。
租户有支付租金的义务到明年10月底为止。但这个义务是从签约时开始还是从入住时开始承担？
如果是从入住时开始，房东在签约时可以收一个违约金（类似房产买卖的earnest money）吗， 多少合适？如果入住，就打入租金计算；如果租户反悔，违约金没收不退。
我使用的合同是州里房产协会的一个版本。此版本明确列出押金（security deposit）得在做完入住检查后才能收取。所以房东在签约时是不能收这个security deposit。但对earnest money没有提及。你们都是怎么操作的？
另一方面，如果是房东在合同开始前的这个月里违约呢？比如房子因为突发情况需维修而到时不能出租了，租客得重新找房，他能找房东要赔偿吗？比方说，10月20日突发情况，通知合同不能按时履行，租客10天内不一定能马上找到房子，房东有义务要补偿他因此而产生的额外费用吗？房东提供住处的义务是从签约时开始还是从入住时开始？
先谢谢大家！
我一般只允许15天的空挡。多了一概不考虑。
想知道这行业别人都怎么在收费。我们州的租房版本上对押金是这么写的：
SECURITY DEPOSIT. Lessor or Listing Firm will give written notice of any change in said depository. This deposit is security for performance of Tenant’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to payment of rent, and to indemnify Lessor for damages to and cleaning of the Property for which Tenant is responsible.
A written "Move In/Move Out Inspection Agreement" describing the condition and cleanliness of and any damage to the Property and furnishings will be signed by Lessor or Listing Firm and Tenant upon commencement of tenancy and a written copy given to Tenant. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT MAY BE COLLECTED UNLESS THIS CHECKLIST IS COMPLETED.
跟房客讲清楚，it's holding deposit, not security deposit. Holding deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to security deposit upon move-in. 我收一个月的租金做为holding deposit，有点高，但也是为了保护自己。
10/1 holding deposit agreement: 1 month deposit in exchange of holding the unit for first renter.
10/31 candidate don't show up. landlord re-advertise.
(1) new tenant moves in before 11/31, landlord should return half of the pro-rated deposit to first renter.
The holding desposit is compensating your rental loss IF THE FIRST RENTER DIDN"T SHOW UP. Your 10/1-10/31 vacancy are not lost rent because you already agreed to give it up to wait for the first renter.
(2) 11/31 and afterwards, landlord can keep all the deposit.
因为我签约时只收了$400，太低了，怕他easily walk away from the lease
用链接不代表我是临时狗狗答案，但是对于不会研究的人，会产生错觉。
岂可照单全收，难不成人给你只魔你还用心头血去养？
押金和第一个月房租在入住前越早越好，绝对不是前一天才搞定。房客和地主都不愿在前一天因为房客也怕房主改变主意。我可以现在收押金和第一月租金鉴合同，但是入住时间是12月一号或whatever dates 只要双方同意。另外，能被这个“吓跑”的房客，不租也罢。