Landlord & Housing · free generator
Maryland Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Maryland, that is not a judgment call: under Maryland Code, Real Property section 8-203 (security deposits), 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 Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Maryland 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 Maryland Code, Real Property section 8-203 (security deposits) (Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 45 days. A written list of damages claimed plus an itemized statement of costs incurred must be mailed within 45 days, or the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages. 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 Maryland law allows claims up to $5,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203, 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 Maryland
- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Governing statute
- Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203
- When the clock starts
- The landlord must return the deposit, with any accrued interest and less lawful deductions, within 45 days after the end of the tenancy. Any written list of claimed damages with an itemized cost statement must be sent by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address within that same 45 days.
- Itemized deductions
- A written list of damages claimed plus an itemized statement of costs incurred must be mailed within 45 days, or the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If the landlord withholds without a reasonable basis or fails to return the deposit plus accrued interest within 45 days, the tenant may recover up to threefold the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees.
- Small claims limit
- $5,000 (District Court of Maryland small claims, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405)
Worth knowing: Maryland cut its deposit cap from two months' rent to one month's rent for leases signed on or after October 1, 2024 (Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act, HB 693), so anything collected above one month on a newer lease is itself recoverable — up to three times the excess plus attorney fees. Deposits of $50 or more earn interest at the greater of 1.5% per year or the one-year U.S. Treasury yield curve rate, accruing monthly. A tenant who notifies the landlord by certified mail at least 15 days before moving has the right to be present at the move-out inspection, which must occur within five days either side of the move date. Landlords must also give a written receipt for the deposit, and failure to do so carries a $25 penalty.
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 Maryland small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The landlord must return the deposit, with any accrued interest and less lawful deductions, within 45 days after the end of the tenancy. Any written list of claimed damages with an itemized cost statement must be sent by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address within that same 45 days.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($5,000 (District Court of Maryland small claims, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405)) 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 Maryland?
The landlord must return the deposit, with any accrued interest and less lawful deductions, within 45 days after the end of the tenancy. Any written list of claimed damages with an itemized cost statement must be sent by first-class mail to the tenant's last known address within that same 45 days. The governing statute is Maryland Code, Real Property section 8-203 (security deposits). A written list of damages claimed plus an itemized statement of costs incurred must be mailed within 45 days, or the landlord forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Maryland?
If the landlord withholds without a reasonable basis or fails to return the deposit plus accrued interest within 45 days, the tenant may recover up to threefold the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney fees. These cases are built for small claims court — the Maryland limit is $5,000 (District Court of Maryland small claims, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Maryland renters should know about deposits?
Maryland cut its deposit cap from two months' rent to one month's rent for leases signed on or after October 1, 2024 (Renters' Rights and Stabilization Act, HB 693), so anything collected above one month on a newer lease is itself recoverable — up to three times the excess plus attorney fees. Deposits of $50 or more earn interest at the greater of 1.5% per year or the one-year U.S. Treasury yield curve rate, accruing monthly. A tenant who notifies the landlord by certified mail at least 15 days before moving has the right to be present at the move-out inspection, which must occur within five days either side of the move date. Landlords must also give a written receipt for the deposit, and failure to do so carries a $25 penalty.
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