Landlord & Housing · free generator
Ohio Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Ohio, that is not a judgment call: under Ohio Revised Code section 5321.16, 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 Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Ohio hears claims up to $6,000 — 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 Ohio Revised Code section 5321.16 (Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 30 days. Yes - written notice itemizing and identifying each deduction for unpaid rent or damages must be delivered to the tenant 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 Ohio law allows claims up to $6,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16, 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 Ohio
- Return deadline
- 30 days
- Governing statute
- Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.16
- When the clock starts
- The deposit, less lawful deductions, plus an itemized notice is due within 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The statute's damages and fee remedies depend on the tenant providing a forwarding address in writing.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - written notice itemizing and identifying each deduction for unpaid rent or damages must be delivered to the tenant within the 30-day window.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- The tenant can recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages equal to that same amount (effectively double) and reasonable attorney fees - but the doubled damages and fees are available only if the tenant gave the landlord a forwarding address in writing.
- Small claims limit
- $6,000 (small claims division of county/municipal court)
Worth knowing: Ohio's most common tenant trap is the forwarding address: hand it over in writing at or before move-out, or you keep only the right to the raw deposit and lose the doubling and attorney fees. Ohio has no cap on deposit size, but any portion exceeding $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater) earns 5 percent annual interest if you stay six months or more. The doubling applies to the amount wrongfully withheld, not automatically to 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 Ohio small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The deposit, less lawful deductions, plus an itemized notice is due within 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The statute's damages and fee remedies depend on the tenant providing a forwarding address in writing.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($6,000 (small claims division of county/municipal 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 Ohio?
The deposit, less lawful deductions, plus an itemized notice is due within 30 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession. The statute's damages and fee remedies depend on the tenant providing a forwarding address in writing. The governing statute is Ohio Revised Code section 5321.16. Yes - written notice itemizing and identifying each deduction for unpaid rent or damages must be delivered to the tenant within the 30-day window.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Ohio?
The tenant can recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages equal to that same amount (effectively double) and reasonable attorney fees - but the doubled damages and fees are available only if the tenant gave the landlord a forwarding address in writing. These cases are built for small claims court — the Ohio limit is $6,000 (small claims division of county/municipal court), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Ohio renters should know about deposits?
Ohio's most common tenant trap is the forwarding address: hand it over in writing at or before move-out, or you keep only the right to the raw deposit and lose the doubling and attorney fees. Ohio has no cap on deposit size, but any portion exceeding $50 or one month's rent (whichever is greater) earns 5 percent annual interest if you stay six months or more. The doubling applies to the amount wrongfully withheld, not automatically to the whole deposit.
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