Landlord & Housing · free generator
Alabama Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Alabama, that is not a judgment call: under Code of Alabama section 35-9A-201 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), your former landlord generally has 60 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Alabama hears claims up to $6,000 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under Code of Alabama section 35-9A-201 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 60 days. If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized list of the amounts withheld must be provided within the same 60-day window. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where Alabama law allows claims up to $6,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Ala. Code § 35-9A-201, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in Alabama
- Return deadline
- 60 days
- Governing statute
- Ala. Code § 35-9A-201
- When the clock starts
- The 60-day clock runs from termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession back to the landlord. The tenant should hand the landlord a written forwarding address at move-out; without one, the landlord mails the refund or accounting to the tenant's last known address or the rental unit itself.
- Itemized deductions
- If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized list of the amounts withheld must be provided within the same 60-day window.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- A landlord who fails to mail a timely refund or itemized accounting within 60 days must pay the tenant double the amount of the original deposit under § 35-9A-201(f).
- Small claims limit
- $6,000 (Small Claims Division of District Court)
Worth knowing: Alabama caps the base deposit at one month's rent, but landlords may lawfully charge extra for pets, tenant alterations to the premises, or unusual liability risks. Watch the mail: a refund check that goes unclaimed for 90 days after mailing is forfeited back to the landlord, so cashing it promptly matters. No interest is owed on deposits, and there is no statutory walk-through inspection right.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a Alabama small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The 60-day clock runs from termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession back to the landlord. The tenant should hand the landlord a written forwarding address at move-out; without one, the landlord mails the refund or accounting to the tenant's last known address or the rental unit itself.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($6,000 (Small Claims Division of District Court)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Alabama?
The 60-day clock runs from termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession back to the landlord. The tenant should hand the landlord a written forwarding address at move-out; without one, the landlord mails the refund or accounting to the tenant's last known address or the rental unit itself. The governing statute is Code of Alabama section 35-9A-201 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized list of the amounts withheld must be provided within the same 60-day window.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Alabama?
A landlord who fails to mail a timely refund or itemized accounting within 60 days must pay the tenant double the amount of the original deposit under § 35-9A-201(f). These cases are built for small claims court — the Alabama limit is $6,000 (Small Claims Division of District Court), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Alabama renters should know about deposits?
Alabama caps the base deposit at one month's rent, but landlords may lawfully charge extra for pets, tenant alterations to the premises, or unusual liability risks. Watch the mail: a refund check that goes unclaimed for 90 days after mailing is forfeited back to the landlord, so cashing it promptly matters. No interest is owed on deposits, and there is no statutory walk-through inspection right.
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