I'm not trying to characterize the security deposit as anything. I am saying the deposit is irrelevant to the laws in play. The landlord cannot make a claim for damages if he doesn't comply with the law. If he does make a claim for damages and he is holding s security deposit he can withhold the deposit
using your argument if be did not hold a deposit or this bond he simply couldn't make a claim for any damages. Obviously they is not correct. Holding the deposit or not has no effect on the requirements of the landlord to give notice to the tenant as the statue requires.

