Landlord & Housing · free generator
Illinois Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Illinois, that is not a judgment call: under Illinois Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1, your former landlord generally has 30–45 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites 765 ILCS 710/1 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Illinois 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 Illinois Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1 (765 ILCS 710/1), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30–45 days. Yes — an itemized statement of damage with estimated or actual repair costs is due within 30 days of vacating, and if estimates were used, paid receipts (or copies) must follow within 30 more days; otherwise the full deposit must be returned within 45 days. 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 Illinois law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under 765 ILCS 710/1, 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 Illinois
- Return deadline
- 30–45 days
- Governing statute
- 765 ILCS 710/1
- When the clock starts
- The itemized statement of damages is due within 30 days of the date the tenant vacates (or the date the tenant's right of possession ends, if later); the deposit or remaining balance must be returned within 45 days of the date the tenant vacated.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes — an itemized statement of damage with estimated or actual repair costs is due within 30 days of vacating, and if estimates were used, paid receipts (or copies) must follow within 30 more days; otherwise the full deposit must be returned within 45 days.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If a court finds the landlord refused to supply the itemized statement (or supplied it in bad faith) and failed to return the deposit due, the landlord owes an amount equal to twice the security deposit due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (small claims)
Worth knowing: Effective January 1, 2024 (P.A. 103-224), the Return Act covers every Illinois residential rental — the old five-or-more-units threshold is gone, so even single-family-home landlords are bound. Statements and refunds may be delivered personally, by mail, or by email to a verified address the tenant provided. Separate laws layer on interest: buildings of 25 or more units must pay interest on deposits held over six months under the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715), and Chicago tenants get stronger remedies under the city's RLTO, including a penalty of two times the deposit plus interest.
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 Illinois small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The itemized statement of damages is due within 30 days of the date the tenant vacates (or the date the tenant's right of possession ends, if later); the deposit or remaining balance must be returned within 45 days of the date the tenant vacated.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (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 Illinois?
The itemized statement of damages is due within 30 days of the date the tenant vacates (or the date the tenant's right of possession ends, if later); the deposit or remaining balance must be returned within 45 days of the date the tenant vacated. The governing statute is Illinois Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1. Yes — an itemized statement of damage with estimated or actual repair costs is due within 30 days of vacating, and if estimates were used, paid receipts (or copies) must follow within 30 more days; otherwise the full deposit must be returned within 45 days.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Illinois?
If a court finds the landlord refused to supply the itemized statement (or supplied it in bad faith) and failed to return the deposit due, the landlord owes an amount equal to twice the security deposit due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney fees. These cases are built for small claims court — the Illinois limit is $10,000 (small claims), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Illinois renters should know about deposits?
Effective January 1, 2024 (P.A. 103-224), the Return Act covers every Illinois residential rental — the old five-or-more-units threshold is gone, so even single-family-home landlords are bound. Statements and refunds may be delivered personally, by mail, or by email to a verified address the tenant provided. Separate laws layer on interest: buildings of 25 or more units must pay interest on deposits held over six months under the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715), and Chicago tenants get stronger remedies under the city's RLTO, including a penalty of two times the deposit plus interest.
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