As August approaches, leases on most apartments are coming to an end, and renters must retrieve their security deposits from their landlords -- if they can.

Some deposits are withheld in case of property damage done by the students.

"I am actually worried [about getting my deposit back]. I have roommates that are not clean. I'm leaving Friday after finals, and they're still going to be there. I could lose my security because of them," Lisa Gabor (senior-health and human development) said.

Having the landlord inspect the apartment after the tenants move out can present a problem, because it can become the tenant's word against their landlord's when it comes to repairs.

"It was difficult getting the security back," Amy Drotar (senior-art) said. "My landlady tried to bill me for things that never happened. I didn't pay my last month's rent because of that."

However, Theresa Kotulka, property manager of Park Forest Apartments, 901-E W. Aaron Drive, said security deposits are usually withheld only if the damage is serious.

If there is no serious damage, most realty companies will mail the deposit to a forwarding address given to the landlord by the tenant. This address is usually the tenant's parents' home or a new apartment.

Kotulka said damages charged to students are classified as malicious.

These kinds of damage include holes in the walls and cracked light fixtures, windows or appliances. Damaged furniture is also checked out if the apartment is furnished by the realty agency.

"Sometimes they're so bad we go in and take pictures," Kotulka said. "We don't charge them for normal wear and tear. If the apartment needs [to be] painted, we won't charge them for that unless it's painted black."

Passing apartment inspection is a major part of having a security deposit returned, said Jeanine Patrick, property manager of Copper Beech Town Homes, 1003 W. Aaron Drive.

At Copper Beech a receipt must be provided upon moving out to show that the carpets were cleaned.

"We rarely go through inspection with tenants," Patrick said. "There just isn't time."

This procedure doesn't apply to all rental companies.

The Pointe, 501 Vairo Blvd., allows tenants to be present at the inspection if it takes place before the required move-out date. If the inspection is done prior to this date, tenants can make repairs. If everything checks out, the deposit will be returned.

"We have 30 days to return the security deposit," Patricia Slagle, assistant property manager of The Pointe said. "This agreement is part of the lease."

Other considerations have to be taken into account upon leaving an apartment besides damage.

All keys and parking passes must be returned.

A.W. & Sons, 309 E. Beaver Ave., charges $20 for each building key not returned, $10 for each apartment key, and $5 for any extra keys to computer and work out facilities.

Patrick said Copper Beech requires tenants to pay for new locks if their keys are not returned.

Recent Penn State graduate Jason Stonehouse said it is not difficult to get a security deposit returned and that the information is in the tenant's lease.

"Clean your apartment ... and don't tear out your sink or break any windows," Stonehouse said. "Most people don't even do the reading for their classes, you think they would read a legally binding agreement?"

Associated Realty Property Management, 456 E. Beaver Ave., would not comment on its security deposit policy, and The Apartment Store, 444 E. College Ave., was not available for comment.