Landlord & Housing · free generator
Alaska Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Alaska, that is not a judgment call: under Alaska Statutes section 34.03.070, your former landlord generally has 14 or 30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Alaska hears claims up to $10,000 — 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 Alaska Statutes section 34.03.070 (Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 14 or 30 days. The landlord must mail written notice itemizing accrued rent and damages, together with any refund due, to the tenant's last known address. 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 Alaska law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070, 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 Alaska
- Return deadline
- 14 or 30 days
- Governing statute
- Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070
- When the clock starts
- If the tenant gave proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290, the landlord must mail the refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, extended to 30 days when the landlord deducts for damages. A tenant who left without proper notice gives the landlord 30 days from termination, delivery of possession, or discovery of abandonment.
- Itemized deductions
- The landlord must mail written notice itemizing accrued rent and damages, together with any refund due, to the tenant's last known address.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If the landlord willfully fails to comply with the return requirements, the tenant may recover up to twice the actual amount wrongfully withheld.
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (District Court small claims)
Worth knowing: Deposits are capped at two months' rent, but that cap disappears entirely for units renting above $2,000 a month, and a separate pet deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed for animals other than service animals. Giving proper written notice to quit is what unlocks the fast 14-day return track, so tenants should keep proof of that notice. Alaska also requires landlords to hold deposits in a trust account, separate from their own funds.
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 Alaska small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- If the tenant gave proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290, the landlord must mail the refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, extended to 30 days when the landlord deducts for damages. A tenant who left without proper notice gives the landlord 30 days from termination, delivery of possession, or discovery of abandonment.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (District Court small claims)) 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 Alaska?
If the tenant gave proper termination notice under AS 34.03.290, the landlord must mail the refund within 14 days after the tenancy ends and possession is delivered, extended to 30 days when the landlord deducts for damages. A tenant who left without proper notice gives the landlord 30 days from termination, delivery of possession, or discovery of abandonment. The governing statute is Alaska Statutes section 34.03.070. The landlord must mail written notice itemizing accrued rent and damages, together with any refund due, to the tenant's last known address.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Alaska?
If the landlord willfully fails to comply with the return requirements, the tenant may recover up to twice the actual amount wrongfully withheld. These cases are built for small claims court — the Alaska limit is $10,000 (District Court small claims), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Alaska renters should know about deposits?
Deposits are capped at two months' rent, but that cap disappears entirely for units renting above $2,000 a month, and a separate pet deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed for animals other than service animals. Giving proper written notice to quit is what unlocks the fast 14-day return track, so tenants should keep proof of that notice. Alaska also requires landlords to hold deposits in a trust account, separate from their own funds.
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