Changing deposit holder for roommate move-out

Overview

When a lease continues after a roommate moves out, Whale does not automatically release the security deposit. Deposits are held until the final lease termination and completion of the property’s final accounting.

If a departing resident wishes to receive their deposit back before the lease fully ends, the responsibility for the deposit must be transferred to a remaining or new roommate.

How the transfer process works

To release a departing tenant’s funds, a replacement deposit of the same value must first be secured from another leaseholder.

1. Initiate the Request The current deposit holder must email support@gowhale.com with the following details:
   • Property address and unit number
   • Full name and email address of the person assuming responsibility for the deposit
2. Payment Request Whale will send a formal deposit request for the full amount to the designated person.
3. The "transfer" Once the new payment is successfully processed and confirmed:
   • Whale locks the new deposit to the lease.
   • Whale releases the original funds back to the departing resident.

Important Considerations

Timing: The original deposit cannot be released until the new funds are fully cleared. This process typically takes 3–5 business days once the new payer completes their transaction.

Partial Deposits: Whale only supports the transfer of the full deposit amount held. We cannot facilitate partial releases for individual roommates unless the entire deposit is replaced.