Landlord & Housing · free generator
Rhode Island Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Rhode Island, that is not a judgment call: under Rhode Island General Laws section 34-18-19 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), your former landlord generally has 20 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island General Laws section 34-18-19 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) (R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 20 days. Yes - deductions for unpaid rent, reasonable cleaning, reasonable trash disposal, and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear must be itemized in a written notice delivered with the amount due. 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 Rhode Island law allows claims up to $5,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19, 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 Rhode Island
- Return deadline
- 20 days
- Governing statute
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19
- When the clock starts
- The itemized notice and balance are due within 20 days after the latest of: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address for receiving the deposit.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - deductions for unpaid rent, reasonable cleaning, reasonable trash disposal, and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear must be itemized in a written notice delivered with the amount due.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant may recover the amount due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees.
- Small claims limit
- $5,000 (District Court small claims; recently raised from $2,500)
Worth knowing: Rhode Island caps deposits at one month's rent - one of the strictest caps in the country - with a narrow exception allowing an extra one-month furniture deposit for furnished units where the furniture is worth $5,000 or more. Unusually, reasonable cleaning and trash-disposal costs are expressly deductible even without damage. Because giving a forwarding address is one of the events that starts the 20-day clock, the demand letter itself can trigger the deadline. No interest is owed on the 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 Rhode Island small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The itemized notice and balance are due within 20 days after the latest of: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address for receiving the deposit.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($5,000 (District Court small claims; recently raised from $2,500)) 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 Rhode Island?
The itemized notice and balance are due within 20 days after the latest of: termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant providing a forwarding address for receiving the deposit. The governing statute is Rhode Island General Laws section 34-18-19 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Yes - deductions for unpaid rent, reasonable cleaning, reasonable trash disposal, and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear must be itemized in a written notice delivered with the amount due.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Rhode Island?
If the landlord fails to comply, the tenant may recover the amount due plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees. These cases are built for small claims court — the Rhode Island limit is $5,000 (District Court small claims; recently raised from $2,500), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Rhode Island renters should know about deposits?
Rhode Island caps deposits at one month's rent - one of the strictest caps in the country - with a narrow exception allowing an extra one-month furniture deposit for furnished units where the furniture is worth $5,000 or more. Unusually, reasonable cleaning and trash-disposal costs are expressly deductible even without damage. Because giving a forwarding address is one of the events that starts the 20-day clock, the demand letter itself can trigger the deadline. No interest is owed on the deposit.
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