Landlord & Housing · free generator
Minnesota Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Minnesota, that is not a judgment call: under Minnesota Statutes section 504B.178, your former landlord generally has 3 weeks to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Minnesota hears claims up to $20,000 — 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 Minnesota Statutes section 504B.178 (Minn. Stat. § 504B.178), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 3 weeks. Yes - a written statement showing the specific reason for withholding any portion is due within the same three-week window, and the landlord bears the burden of proving the deductions. 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 Minnesota law allows claims up to $20,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Minn. Stat. § 504B.178, 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 Minnesota
- Return deadline
- 3 weeks
- Governing statute
- Minn. Stat. § 504B.178
- When the clock starts
- The landlord must return the deposit with interest, or a written statement of the specific reason for withholding, within three weeks after the tenancy terminates and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions. The window shrinks to five days if the tenant had to leave because the building was condemned through no fault of the tenant.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - a written statement showing the specific reason for withholding any portion is due within the same three-week window, and the landlord bears the burden of proving the deductions.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- A landlord who misses the deadline owes the tenant the wrongfully withheld amount plus an equal amount (plus interest) as a statutory penalty under subdivision 4 - effectively double - and bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit under subdivision 7.
- Small claims limit
- $20,000 (conciliation court, raised from $15,000 effective Aug 1, 2024)
Worth knowing: Minnesota is one of the few states that pays tenants interest statewide: simple noncompounded interest at 1% per year accrues from the first day of the month after you pay the deposit. Retention in violation of the statute is presumed to be in bad faith unless the landlord returns the money within two weeks after the deadline expires, which makes the $500 punitive add-on realistic to plead. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent and restoring the unit to move-in condition, never ordinary wear and tear. The conciliation court limit rose to $20,000 in August 2024, so almost any deposit dispute fits there.
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 Minnesota small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The landlord must return the deposit with interest, or a written statement of the specific reason for withholding, within three weeks after the tenancy terminates and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions. The window shrinks to five days if the tenant had to leave because the building was condemned through no fault of the tenant.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($20,000 (conciliation court, raised from $15,000 effective Aug 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 Minnesota?
The landlord must return the deposit with interest, or a written statement of the specific reason for withholding, within three weeks after the tenancy terminates and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions. The window shrinks to five days if the tenant had to leave because the building was condemned through no fault of the tenant. The governing statute is Minnesota Statutes section 504B.178. Yes - a written statement showing the specific reason for withholding any portion is due within the same three-week window, and the landlord bears the burden of proving the deductions.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Minnesota?
A landlord who misses the deadline owes the tenant the wrongfully withheld amount plus an equal amount (plus interest) as a statutory penalty under subdivision 4 - effectively double - and bad-faith retention adds punitive damages of up to $500 per deposit under subdivision 7. These cases are built for small claims court — the Minnesota limit is $20,000 (conciliation court, raised from $15,000 effective Aug 1, 2024), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Minnesota renters should know about deposits?
Minnesota is one of the few states that pays tenants interest statewide: simple noncompounded interest at 1% per year accrues from the first day of the month after you pay the deposit. Retention in violation of the statute is presumed to be in bad faith unless the landlord returns the money within two weeks after the deadline expires, which makes the $500 punitive add-on realistic to plead. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent and restoring the unit to move-in condition, never ordinary wear and tear. The conciliation court limit rose to $20,000 in August 2024, so almost any deposit dispute fits there.
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