Landlord & Housing · free generator
Arkansas Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Arkansas, that is not a judgment call: under Arkansas Code Annotated section 18-16-305, 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 Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Arkansas hears claims up to $5,000 — 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 Arkansas Code Annotated section 18-16-305 (Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 60 days. Any deductions must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant along with the remaining balance within the 60-day period. 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 Arkansas law allows claims up to $5,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305, 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 Arkansas
- Return deadline
- 60 days
- Governing statute
- Ark. Code Ann. § 18-16-305
- When the clock starts
- The deposit, less itemized deductions for unpaid rent and damages, must be returned within 60 days of termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. Mailing the notice and payment first-class to the tenant's last known address satisfies the statute.
- Itemized deductions
- Any deductions must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant along with the remaining balance within the 60-day period.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- Under § 18-16-306 a noncomplying landlord is liable for the money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
- Small claims limit
- $5,000 (District Court small claims division)
Worth knowing: Arkansas's deposit statute has a major gap: it does not cover landlords who own five or fewer units and manage them personally rather than through a paid third-party manager, so tenants of small self-managing landlords must rely on the lease and general contract law. Where the statute applies, deposits are capped at two months' rent under § 18-16-304. No interest is owed, and there is no statutory inspection right, so date-stamped move-out photos are the tenant's best protection.
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 Arkansas small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The deposit, less itemized deductions for unpaid rent and damages, must be returned within 60 days of termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. Mailing the notice and payment first-class to the tenant's last known address satisfies the statute.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($5,000 (District Court small claims division)) 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 Arkansas?
The deposit, less itemized deductions for unpaid rent and damages, must be returned within 60 days of termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. Mailing the notice and payment first-class to the tenant's last known address satisfies the statute. The governing statute is Arkansas Code Annotated section 18-16-305. Any deductions must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant along with the remaining balance within the 60-day period.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Arkansas?
Under § 18-16-306 a noncomplying landlord is liable for the money due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees. These cases are built for small claims court — the Arkansas limit is $5,000 (District Court small claims division), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Arkansas renters should know about deposits?
Arkansas's deposit statute has a major gap: it does not cover landlords who own five or fewer units and manage them personally rather than through a paid third-party manager, so tenants of small self-managing landlords must rely on the lease and general contract law. Where the statute applies, deposits are capped at two months' rent under § 18-16-304. No interest is owed, and there is no statutory inspection right, so date-stamped move-out photos are the tenant's best protection.
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