You moved out, left the place clean, and weeks later your deposit still hasn't shown up — or your landlord kept a chunk of it for vague "cleaning" and "damage." You're not powerless. Every U.S. state gives landlords a hard deadline to return a deposit and stiff penalties for withholding it in bad faith. Here's how to get your money back.
Landlords have a legal window — often 14 to 45 days after you move out — to return your deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss it, and in most states they forfeit the right to keep any of it. Look up your state's exact deadline and penalty here. If the deadline has passed, your case just got much stronger.
Landlords can deduct for unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear — not for ordinary aging like faded paint, worn carpet, or small nail holes. If they charged you for normal wear, those deductions are likely improper. (More on this in our wear-and-tear guide.)
This is the step that actually gets you paid. A polite email is easy to ignore. A formal demand letter that names the specific statute, the deadline your landlord missed, and the penalty they now face is not — because it signals you know your rights and are ready to go to court.
Answer a few questions and we'll build a letter citing your state's law, your deadline, and the penalty your landlord faces — ready to sign and send.
Build my demand letter →Security-deposit disputes are one of the most common small-claims cases in the country. Filing usually costs $30–$100, you don't need a lawyer, and your demand letter (plus proof you mailed it) becomes your key evidence. Bring your lease, move-out photos, and any forwarding address you provided.
States set time limits to sue over a deposit — often one to six years. The sooner you send your letter, the more leverage you keep. Waiting only helps the landlord.