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Free Delaware Short-Term
Rental Agreement Template

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Last reviewed September 2026

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Delaware Short-Term Rental Agreement

This Short-Term Rental Agreement is built with Delaware as the governing state. These are the Delaware landlord-tenant rules that most often bear on it, with the statute for each.

Delaware rules at a glance

Delaware rules for a Short-Term Rental Agreement
Security deposit limit1 month’s rent for leases of 1 year or more, and for month-to-month once it passes 1 year (caps don’t apply to furnished units)25 Del. C. §5514(a)
Deposit return20 days, with an itemized list of damages; double the amount wrongfully withheld25 Del. C. §5514(e)–(g)
Pet depositA separate pet deposit is allowed but can’t exceed one month’s rent, whatever the lease length; animal damage is charged against it first. No pet deposit may be charged for a certified, trained support animal (§5514(i)).
Escrow accountEvery deposit must be held in an escrow account at a federally insured bank with an office in Delaware that accepts deposits (§5514(b)).
Fee and deposit capsThe 5% late-fee cap, the application-fee cap and the one-month deposit cap for leases of a year or more apply regardless of what the lease says (§§5501(d), 5514).
Late feesMax 5% of monthly rent, and not until rent is more than 5 days late25 Del. C. §5501(d)

Security deposits in Delaware

Delaware’s deposit cap turns on the length of the lease. For a rental agreement of one year or more, the security deposit can’t exceed one month’s rent. A month-to-month tenancy has no cap in its first year, but once it passes one year the landlord must return any amount above one month’s rent. These caps don’t apply to furnished rental units (§5514(a)).

  • Pet deposit — A separate pet deposit is allowed but can’t exceed one month’s rent, whatever the lease length; animal damage is charged against it first. No pet deposit may be charged for a certified, trained support animal (§5514(i)).
  • Escrow account — Every deposit must be held in an escrow account at a federally insured bank with an office in Delaware that accepts deposits (§5514(b)).
  • Allowed deductions — Damage beyond normal wear and tear that ordinary cleaning and painting won’t fix, unpaid rent and late charges, and reasonable renovating and re-renting costs if the tenant leaves early (capped at one month’s rent when the tenant ends the lease early under §5314) (§5514(c)).
  • 20-day return — Within 20 days after the lease ends the landlord must send an itemized list of damages with estimated repair costs and pay back the difference (§5514(e)–(f)).
  • Penalty — Failing to return the deposit or the balance within 20 days entitles the tenant to double the amount wrongfully withheld (§5514(g)(1)).

Rent, late fees & rent increases

Unless otherwise agreed, rent is due at the start of each month (§5501(b)). A landlord who takes rent in cash must give a receipt within 15 days and keep records of cash payments for three years (§5501(e)).

  • Late-fee cap — A late charge must be in the lease and can’t exceed 5% of the monthly rent, and it can’t be imposed until rent is more than 5 days late (§5501(d)).
  • Payment office — If the landlord doesn’t keep an office or other permanent place in the county where rent can be paid, the due date is automatically extended by 3 days (§5501(d)).
  • Application fee — Capped at the greater of 10% of the monthly rent or $50, to check the applicant’s creditworthiness (§5514(d)).
  • Rent increases — Any change in rent or other terms requires at least 60 days’ written notice before the rental agreement expires (§5107). Rent can’t be raised in retaliation for a code complaint or tenant organizing (§5516).
  • Rent control — Delaware has no rent control on apartments or houses; the state’s rent-justification rules apply only to manufactured-home communities.

Tenant protections you can’t waive

  • No waiver clauses — A lease can’t make the tenant waive rights or remedies under the Landlord-Tenant Code or exculpate the landlord from liability. A landlord who tries to enforce a provision it knows is prohibited can owe the tenant three months’ rent plus court costs (§5301).
  • No lockouts — Removing or excluding a tenant without a court order entitles the tenant to treble damages or three times the per-diem rent for the time locked out (§5313).
  • No retaliation — A landlord can’t evict, raise rent or cut services because a tenant complained about code violations or joined a tenant organization; action within 90 days of such a complaint is presumed retaliatory (§5516).
  • Fee and deposit caps — The 5% late-fee cap, the application-fee cap and the one-month deposit cap for leases of a year or more apply regardless of what the lease says (§§5501(d), 5514).

Delaware Short-Term Rental Agreement FAQs

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Delaware?

For an unfurnished unit on a lease of one year or more, no more than one month’s rent. A month-to-month tenancy isn’t capped in its first year, but after a year the landlord must return anything above one month’s rent. A separate pet deposit of up to one month’s rent is also allowed (25 Del. C. §5514).

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Delaware?

20 days after the lease ends — one of the shortest windows in the country. The landlord must send an itemized list of damages with estimated repair costs and pay the balance; missing the deadline entitles the tenant to double the amount wrongfully withheld (§5514(f)–(g)).

What is the maximum late fee in Delaware?

5% of the monthly rent, and it can’t be charged until rent is more than 5 days late. If the landlord has no office or payment location in the county, the due date is pushed back another 3 days (25 Del. C. §5501(d)).

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