Landlord & Housing · free generator
Massachusetts Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Massachusetts, that is not a judgment call: under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 186, section 15B (security deposits), your former landlord generally has 30 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Massachusetts hears claims up to $7,000 — 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 Massachusetts General Laws chapter 186, section 15B (security deposits) (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. Any deduction for damage requires an itemized list of damages sworn to by the lessor or agent under the pains and penalties of perjury, with written documentation such as estimates, bills, or receipts, delivered within the 30-day window. 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 Massachusetts law allows claims up to $7,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B, 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 Massachusetts
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B
- When the clock starts
- The deposit, plus accrued interest and less lawful deductions, must be returned within 30 days after termination of occupancy.
- Itemized deductions
- Any deduction for damage requires an itemized list of damages sworn to by the lessor or agent under the pains and penalties of perjury, with written documentation such as estimates, bills, or receipts, delivered within the 30-day window.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- Failure to return the deposit within 30 days, to deposit it in a separate account beyond creditor claims, or to transfer it properly to a successor entitles the tenant to three times the deposit amount plus 5% interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees.
- Small claims limit
- $7,000 (District Court / Boston Municipal Court small claims, G.L. c. 218 § 21)
Worth knowing: Massachusetts has arguably the strictest deposit statute in the country, and courts enforce it technically: the deposit is capped at one month's rent and must sit in a separate interest-bearing account in a bank located within the commonwealth, with the bank name, address, and account number disclosed to the tenant within 30 days of receipt. Deposits held a year or more earn 5% annual interest (or the actual bank rate), payable each year. The landlord must also furnish a signed statement of condition within 10 days of move-in; skipping any of these formalities can forfeit the right to keep a penny — and the enumerated violations trigger the treble-damages remedy even without proof of bad faith. Note the $7,000 small-claims cap does not block a treble-damages award, since statutory multipliers can exceed the ceiling.
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 Massachusetts small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The deposit, plus accrued interest and less lawful deductions, must be returned within 30 days after termination of occupancy.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($7,000 (District Court / Boston Municipal Court small claims, G.L. c. 218 § 21)) 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 Massachusetts?
The deposit, plus accrued interest and less lawful deductions, must be returned within 30 days after termination of occupancy. The governing statute is Massachusetts General Laws chapter 186, section 15B (security deposits). Any deduction for damage requires an itemized list of damages sworn to by the lessor or agent under the pains and penalties of perjury, with written documentation such as estimates, bills, or receipts, delivered within the 30-day window.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Massachusetts?
Failure to return the deposit within 30 days, to deposit it in a separate account beyond creditor claims, or to transfer it properly to a successor entitles the tenant to three times the deposit amount plus 5% interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees. These cases are built for small claims court — the Massachusetts limit is $7,000 (District Court / Boston Municipal Court small claims, G.L. c. 218 § 21), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Massachusetts renters should know about deposits?
Massachusetts has arguably the strictest deposit statute in the country, and courts enforce it technically: the deposit is capped at one month's rent and must sit in a separate interest-bearing account in a bank located within the commonwealth, with the bank name, address, and account number disclosed to the tenant within 30 days of receipt. Deposits held a year or more earn 5% annual interest (or the actual bank rate), payable each year. The landlord must also furnish a signed statement of condition within 10 days of move-in; skipping any of these formalities can forfeit the right to keep a penny — and the enumerated violations trigger the treble-damages remedy even without proof of bad faith. Note the $7,000 small-claims cap does not block a treble-damages award, since statutory multipliers can exceed the ceiling.
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