Lucy Cohen Blatter

The thought of handing a landlord hundreds or thousands of dollars as a security deposit can inspire stomach aches in even the most battle-scarred of renters--not only does it tie up your funds, it also sets the stage for the almost inevitable fight to get it back when you're ready to move out. 

Don't stress out. Instead, read up on the essentials of security deposits, and make note of these tips to get your money back:

Lisa* owned her two-bedroom in a prewar building on the Upper West Side for about 12 years before being asked to join the board. For the last two years she's served as treasurer, one of five people on the board of her 65-unit building.

Her responsibilties include signing the checks, looking over the bills, attending monthly meetings and board interviews, and vetting buyers.