Landlord & Housing · free generator
Kentucky Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Kentucky, that is not a judgment call: under Kentucky Revised Statutes section 383.580 (security deposits), Kentucky sets no single statutory deadline, but courts still expect a prompt return — and your lease may set its own. This generator produces a demand letter that cites KRS § 383.580 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Kentucky hears claims up to $2,500 — 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 Kentucky Revised Statutes section 383.580 (security deposits) (KRS § 383.580), you were required to return my security deposit within a reasonable time after I vacated the premises. At move-out the landlord must inspect and compile a comprehensive listing of damages with estimated repair costs, which the tenant has the right to inspect and either sign or dispute in a signed written statement of dissent. 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 Kentucky law allows claims up to $2,500, and I will pursue every remedy available under KRS § 383.580, 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 Kentucky
- Return deadline
- No statutory deadline
- Governing statute
- KRS § 383.580
- When the clock starts
- KRS 383.580 sets no fixed return deadline. If the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must notify the tenant at the last known address of the refund amount, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice the landlord may keep the deposit; if the tenant leaves owing rent without demanding the deposit, the landlord may apply it to the debt after 30 days.
- Itemized deductions
- At move-out the landlord must inspect and compile a comprehensive listing of damages with estimated repair costs, which the tenant has the right to inspect and either sign or dispute in a signed written statement of dissent.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- There is no statutory damages multiplier, but a landlord who failed to keep the deposit in a separate disclosed account or to provide the required move-in and move-out damage listings forfeits the right to retain any portion, and the tenant can sue in District Court for the amount owed.
- Small claims limit
- $2,500 (Small Claims Division of District Court, KRS 24A.230)
Worth knowing: Kentucky's deposit statute is part of the URLTA, which applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it — including Louisville/Jefferson County, Lexington, Covington, and several other Northern Kentucky cities — so tenants elsewhere in the state have essentially no statutory deposit protections and must rely on their lease. The deposit must sit in a separate account whose location and account number are disclosed to the tenant. Critically, a tenant who refuses to sign the final damage listing without filing a specific written dissent loses the right to recover in court, so tenants should always dissent in writing item by item rather than simply walking away.
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 Kentucky small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- KRS 383.580 sets no fixed return deadline. If the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must notify the tenant at the last known address of the refund amount, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice the landlord may keep the deposit; if the tenant leaves owing rent without demanding the deposit, the landlord may apply it to the debt after 30 days.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($2,500 (Small Claims Division of District Court, KRS 24A.230)) 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 Kentucky?
KRS 383.580 sets no fixed return deadline. If the tenant leaves owing no rent with a refund due, the landlord must notify the tenant at the last known address of the refund amount, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days of that notice the landlord may keep the deposit; if the tenant leaves owing rent without demanding the deposit, the landlord may apply it to the debt after 30 days. The governing statute is Kentucky Revised Statutes section 383.580 (security deposits). At move-out the landlord must inspect and compile a comprehensive listing of damages with estimated repair costs, which the tenant has the right to inspect and either sign or dispute in a signed written statement of dissent.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Kentucky?
There is no statutory damages multiplier, but a landlord who failed to keep the deposit in a separate disclosed account or to provide the required move-in and move-out damage listings forfeits the right to retain any portion, and the tenant can sue in District Court for the amount owed. These cases are built for small claims court — the Kentucky limit is $2,500 (Small Claims Division of District Court, KRS 24A.230), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Kentucky renters should know about deposits?
Kentucky's deposit statute is part of the URLTA, which applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it — including Louisville/Jefferson County, Lexington, Covington, and several other Northern Kentucky cities — so tenants elsewhere in the state have essentially no statutory deposit protections and must rely on their lease. The deposit must sit in a separate account whose location and account number are disclosed to the tenant. Critically, a tenant who refuses to sign the final damage listing without filing a specific written dissent loses the right to recover in court, so tenants should always dissent in writing item by item rather than simply walking away.
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