How must a landlord handle residential security deposits?

Unless there have been damages, the landlord must return the security deposit to the tenant within 30 days of the end of the lease.

The answer is UNLESS THERE HAVE BEEN DAMAGES, THE LANDLORD MUST RETURN THE SECURITY DEPOSIT TO THE TENANT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE END OF THE LEASE. Unless there have been damages, the landlord must return the security deposit to a residential tenant within 30 days of the end of the lease provided the tenant has fulfilled the terms of the lease and provided a forwarding address. Commercial security deposits must be returned within 60 days (TX Property Code Section 92.103(a)).