Landlord & Housing · free generator
Nevada Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Nevada, that is not a judgment call: under Nevada Revised Statutes section 118A.242, 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 Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Nevada hears claims up to $10,000 — 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 Nevada Revised Statutes section 118A.242 (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. Yes - an itemized, written accounting of the disposition of the deposit is required within the same 30 days, and deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear, and reasonable cleaning costs. 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 Nevada law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242, 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 Nevada
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242
- When the clock starts
- No later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy, the landlord must hand the tenant, or mail to the tenant's present or last known address, the remaining deposit together with an itemized written accounting of its disposition.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - an itemized, written accounting of the disposition of the deposit is required within the same 30 days, and deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear, and reasonable cleaning costs.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If the landlord fails or refuses to return the remainder within 30 days, the landlord is liable for damages equal to the entire security deposit plus a further sum fixed by the court of up to the full deposit amount - up to double in total - weighing the landlord's good faith and the harm caused.
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (Justice Court small claims under NRS 73.010)
Worth knowing: Nevada caps the deposit plus any last month's rent at three months' periodic rent, one of the higher ceilings in the country, which makes the up-to-double penalty significant in dollar terms. Landlords may offer a surety bond in lieu of a cash deposit - if yours did, you have 30 days after receiving the itemized accounting to send the surety a written dispute, which blocks the claim from hitting your credit report unless the landlord wins a judgment against you. Lease clauses purporting to waive these rights are void, and Nevada requires no interest on deposits.
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 Nevada small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- No later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy, the landlord must hand the tenant, or mail to the tenant's present or last known address, the remaining deposit together with an itemized written accounting of its disposition.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (Justice Court small claims under NRS 73.010)) 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 Nevada?
No later than 30 days after the termination of the tenancy, the landlord must hand the tenant, or mail to the tenant's present or last known address, the remaining deposit together with an itemized written accounting of its disposition. The governing statute is Nevada Revised Statutes section 118A.242. Yes - an itemized, written accounting of the disposition of the deposit is required within the same 30 days, and deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear, and reasonable cleaning costs.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Nevada?
If the landlord fails or refuses to return the remainder within 30 days, the landlord is liable for damages equal to the entire security deposit plus a further sum fixed by the court of up to the full deposit amount - up to double in total - weighing the landlord's good faith and the harm caused. These cases are built for small claims court — the Nevada limit is $10,000 (Justice Court small claims under NRS 73.010), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Nevada renters should know about deposits?
Nevada caps the deposit plus any last month's rent at three months' periodic rent, one of the higher ceilings in the country, which makes the up-to-double penalty significant in dollar terms. Landlords may offer a surety bond in lieu of a cash deposit - if yours did, you have 30 days after receiving the itemized accounting to send the surety a written dispute, which blocks the claim from hitting your credit report unless the landlord wins a judgment against you. Lease clauses purporting to waive these rights are void, and Nevada requires no interest on deposits.
Keep going
Related letters
Lease Termination Letter →
Formal notice with your move-out date, inspection request, and deposit instructions.
Demand Letter for Payment →
The last letter before small claims - amount, deadline, and consequence, in writing.
Repair Request Letter to Landlord →
A dated repair demand with a 14-day deadline your landlord can't claim they never got.