Landlord & Housing · free generator
Security Deposit Return Letter
Fill in your details, review the security deposit return letter, and edit the wording before you send. Copy the finished text or download a Word file for free.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to request the return or accounting of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the rental property at [Rental property address]. Please review the deposit account for this tenancy and send the amount due to the forwarding address below.
Please provide a written accounting of any deductions, including their reasons and supporting documentation required by applicable law, together with any remaining deposit balance.
Please respond to this request within ten days and send any deposit balance due to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment]. This requested response date does not replace any deadline under applicable law.
If this remains unresolved, I will review the remedies available under the laws that apply to this tenancy, including whether a small claims case is appropriate.
I trust that will not be necessary.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send this certified mail, return receipt requested. In several states the return deadline doesn't even start until the landlord has your forwarding address in writing - this letter does both jobs at once.
- Gather your lease, payment records, inspection notes, photos and correspondence. If you consider small claims court, check your court’s filing fee, claim limit and fee-waiver process.
- Know your state's deadline before sending - most run 14 to 30 days after move-out. If it hasn't passed yet, wait until it has; a demand sent too early is easy to brush aside.
Make it state-specific
Your state has its own deadline — use it
Each state version cites the actual statute and return deadline inside the letter itself — the detail landlords answer. Or see every state’s deadline in one table →
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does my landlord have to return my deposit?
It varies by state - most deadlines fall between 14 and 30 days after you move out, with a few states allowing up to 45 or 60. In some states the clock doesn't start until you've given a forwarding address in writing, which is one reason this letter matters. Look up your state's security deposit statute; searching your state name plus 'security deposit deadline' will surface it quickly.
Can my landlord deduct for repainting and carpet cleaning?
Only if it goes beyond normal wear and tear. Faded paint, minor scuffs, and carpet worn flat by ordinary living are the landlord's cost of doing business in essentially every state. Pet stains, burns, and holes in walls are damage and can be deducted - but even then, many states require the landlord to prorate for the item's age. Routine repainting between tenants is generally not deductible.
Is small claims court really worth it for a deposit?
Compare the amount you are seeking with filing and service costs, time involved and available evidence. Check your local court’s claim limit and procedure, along with remedies under the law that applies to your tenancy. A letter documents your request; it does not guarantee payment or a court outcome.
Keep going
Related letters
Lease Termination Letter →
Formal notice with your move-out date, inspection request, and deposit instructions.
Demand Letter for Payment →
The last letter before small claims - amount, deadline, and consequence, in writing.
Repair Request Letter to Landlord →
A dated repair demand with a 14-day deadline your landlord can't claim they never got.
When to use this letter
Your landlord has your money, the statutory deadline has come and gone, and the silence is the answer. In every state, a landlord who keeps a security deposit must either return it or send an itemized statement of deductions within a set window - often 14 to 30 days - and normal wear and tear doesn't count as damage. What moves a stalled deposit isn't another polite text; it's a written demand that names the amount, cites the law, and states plainly that small claims court is next. Many states award tenants two or three times the deposit when a landlord withholds it in bad faith - and landlords know it. Fill in the details below, check the rules that apply to your tenancy, and keep a copy of the letter and proof of delivery.
Check the facts before making a demand
Confirm the tenancy address, move-out date, deposit amount, deductions or payments already received, and the state and local rules. The general letter above requests an accounting; it does not establish that a legal deadline has expired.
If you use a state-specific letter, check the linked official authority and confirm that the wording fits your tenancy. For example, the California Courts guide describes California’s return and deduction requirements. Other jurisdictions have their own rules.