Landlord & Housing · free generator
Kansas Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Kansas, that is not a judgment call: under Kansas Statutes Annotated section 58-2550 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — security deposits), your former landlord generally has 14–30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites K.S.A. § 58-2550 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Kansas 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 Kansas Statutes Annotated section 58-2550 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — security deposits) (K.S.A. § 58-2550), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 14–30 days. When any portion is retained, the landlord must deliver a written notice to the tenant itemizing all expenses, damages, or charges withheld under the rental agreement. 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 Kansas law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under K.S.A. § 58-2550, 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 Kansas
- Return deadline
- 14–30 days
- Governing statute
- K.S.A. § 58-2550
- When the clock starts
- The landlord must return the balance within 14 days after determining the deductions, but in no event more than 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord mails whatever remains to the tenant's last known address.
- Itemized deductions
- When any portion is retained, the landlord must deliver a written notice to the tenant itemizing all expenses, damages, or charges withheld under the rental agreement.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If the landlord wrongfully withholds any part of the deposit, the tenant may recover the portion due together with damages equal to one and one-half times the amount wrongfully withheld under K.S.A. 58-2550(c).
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (District Court small claims, K.S.A. 61-2703; raised from $4,000 July 1, 2024)
Worth knowing: Kansas caps deposits at one month's rent for unfurnished units, one and a half months' for furnished units, plus up to an extra half month for pets. The statute conditions return on the tenant's demand — sending a written demand with a forwarding address is what completes the trigger, which is exactly what a demand letter accomplishes. Within five days of initial occupancy, landlord and tenant are supposed to jointly inventory the premises under K.S.A. 58-2548, and that signed inventory matters later when disputing damage claims.
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 Kansas small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The landlord must return the balance within 14 days after determining the deductions, but in no event more than 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord mails whatever remains to the tenant's last known address.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (District Court small claims, K.S.A. 61-2703; raised from $4,000 July 1, 2024)) 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 Kansas?
The landlord must return the balance within 14 days after determining the deductions, but in no event more than 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant. If the tenant makes no demand within 30 days, the landlord mails whatever remains to the tenant's last known address. The governing statute is Kansas Statutes Annotated section 58-2550 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — security deposits). When any portion is retained, the landlord must deliver a written notice to the tenant itemizing all expenses, damages, or charges withheld under the rental agreement.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Kansas?
If the landlord wrongfully withholds any part of the deposit, the tenant may recover the portion due together with damages equal to one and one-half times the amount wrongfully withheld under K.S.A. 58-2550(c). These cases are built for small claims court — the Kansas limit is $10,000 (District Court small claims, K.S.A. 61-2703; raised from $4,000 July 1, 2024), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Kansas renters should know about deposits?
Kansas caps deposits at one month's rent for unfurnished units, one and a half months' for furnished units, plus up to an extra half month for pets. The statute conditions return on the tenant's demand — sending a written demand with a forwarding address is what completes the trigger, which is exactly what a demand letter accomplishes. Within five days of initial occupancy, landlord and tenant are supposed to jointly inventory the premises under K.S.A. 58-2548, and that signed inventory matters later when disputing damage claims.
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