Landlord & Housing · free generator
Missouri Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Missouri, that is not a judgment call: under Missouri Revised Statutes section 535.300, 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 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Missouri 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 Missouri Revised Statutes section 535.300 (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. Yes - a written itemized list of the damages for which any portion is withheld, delivered with the balance within 30 days. 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 Missouri law allows claims up to $5,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300, 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 Missouri
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
- When the clock starts
- Within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy, the landlord must either return the full deposit or mail a written itemized list of damages together with the remaining balance to the tenant's last known address.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - a written itemized list of the damages for which any portion is withheld, delivered with the balance within 30 days.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If the landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, the tenant "shall recover as damages twice the amount wrongfully withheld" under subsection 6 - the double-damages award is mandatory, not discretionary, once a violation is found.
- Small claims limit
- $5,000 (small claims division of circuit court)
Worth knowing: Missouri caps deposits at two months' rent and gives tenants a right most states don't: to be present at the move-out inspection, which the landlord must schedule at a reasonable time after giving reasonable notice. Attend it and take photos - it is your best evidence if deductions appear later. Be aware the landlord may lawfully deduct actual losses caused by your failure to give adequate notice before moving out, so document that you gave proper notice. The double-damages penalty applies to the withheld portion, not the whole deposit.
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 Missouri small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- Within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy, the landlord must either return the full deposit or mail a written itemized list of damages together with the remaining balance to the tenant's last known address.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($5,000 (small claims division of circuit court)) 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 Missouri?
Within 30 days after the date of termination of the tenancy, the landlord must either return the full deposit or mail a written itemized list of damages together with the remaining balance to the tenant's last known address. The governing statute is Missouri Revised Statutes section 535.300. Yes - a written itemized list of the damages for which any portion is withheld, delivered with the balance within 30 days.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Missouri?
If the landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, the tenant "shall recover as damages twice the amount wrongfully withheld" under subsection 6 - the double-damages award is mandatory, not discretionary, once a violation is found. These cases are built for small claims court — the Missouri limit is $5,000 (small claims division of circuit court), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Missouri renters should know about deposits?
Missouri caps deposits at two months' rent and gives tenants a right most states don't: to be present at the move-out inspection, which the landlord must schedule at a reasonable time after giving reasonable notice. Attend it and take photos - it is your best evidence if deductions appear later. Be aware the landlord may lawfully deduct actual losses caused by your failure to give adequate notice before moving out, so document that you gave proper notice. The double-damages penalty applies to the withheld portion, not the whole deposit.
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