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Indiana Security Deposit Demand Letter

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[Your full name]

[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 Indiana Code section 32-31-3-12 (Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 45 days. Yes — an itemized list of damages claimed, with the estimated cost of repair for each item, must be mailed to the tenant along with any remaining refund within the 45-day window (Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 and 32-31-3-14). 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 Indiana law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12, 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 Indiana

Return deadline: 45 days
Governing statute: Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12
When the clock starts: 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession — but the landlord is not liable under the statute until the tenant supplies, in writing, a mailing address to which the notice and refund can be sent.
Itemized deductions: Yes — an itemized list of damages claimed, with the estimated cost of repair for each item, must be mailed to the tenant along with any remaining refund within the 45-day window (Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 and 32-31-3-14).
If it's wrongfully kept: Failure to send the itemized notice within 45 days constitutes agreement by the landlord that no damages are due — the full deposit must be remitted immediately under § 32-31-3-15 — and a landlord who fails to comply is also liable for the tenant's reasonable attorney fees under § 32-31-3-12(b).
Small claims limit: $10,000 statewide; $8,000 in Marion County township small claims courts

Worth knowing: Indiana's 45-day protection is switched on by your written forwarding address — the landlord owes nothing under the chapter until you supply one, so hand it over in writing at move-out and keep proof. The attorney-fee award for noncompliance is unusual leverage in a low-dollar dispute, since fees often exceed the deposit. Indiana imposes no cap on deposit amounts and no interest obligation. Note the Indianapolis quirk: Marion County's nine township small claims courts cap claims at $8,000, versus the $10,000 small-claims docket limit in the rest of the state.

Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute · Also for Indiana: notice to vacate letter

Field notes

Three tips before you send

Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a Indiana small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession — but the landlord is not liable under the statute until the tenant supplies, in writing, a mailing address to which the notice and refund can be sent.
If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 statewide; $8,000 in Marion County township small claims courts) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.

Straight answers

Questions people ask

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Indiana?

45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession — but the landlord is not liable under the statute until the tenant supplies, in writing, a mailing address to which the notice and refund can be sent. The governing statute is Indiana Code section 32-31-3-12. Yes — an itemized list of damages claimed, with the estimated cost of repair for each item, must be mailed to the tenant along with any remaining refund within the 45-day window (Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 and 32-31-3-14).

What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Indiana?

Failure to send the itemized notice within 45 days constitutes agreement by the landlord that no damages are due — the full deposit must be remitted immediately under § 32-31-3-15 — and a landlord who fails to comply is also liable for the tenant's reasonable attorney fees under § 32-31-3-12(b). These cases are built for small claims court — the Indiana limit is $10,000 statewide; $8,000 in Marion County township small claims courts, filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.

Anything else Indiana renters should know about deposits?

Indiana's 45-day protection is switched on by your written forwarding address — the landlord owes nothing under the chapter until you supply one, so hand it over in writing at move-out and keep proof. The attorney-fee award for noncompliance is unusual leverage in a low-dollar dispute, since fees often exceed the deposit. Indiana imposes no cap on deposit amounts and no interest obligation. Note the Indianapolis quirk: Marion County's nine township small claims courts cap claims at $8,000, versus the $10,000 small-claims docket limit in the rest of the state.

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When to use this letter

You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Indiana, that is not a judgment call: under Indiana Code section 32-31-3-12, your former landlord generally has 45 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Indiana 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.