[fintstone]

Unless the home is totally trashed (appears vandalized), I almost always give back the entire deposit. If they stay more than one year, carpet and paint are generally considered fair wear and tear. Depending on location/lease terms...you generally cannot keep a damage deposit for anything else other than damage. Even if you believe they owe you money/rent. Of course, one might work hard find damage if they owed you money.

If one does not meet the terms of the lease (moves out early) and I cannot get the home rented quickly, I would attempt to get a judgement for rent and utilities during that period, but that is outside the deposit.