Landlord & Housing · free generator
District of Columbia Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In District of Columbia, that is not a judgment call: under D.C. Municipal Regulations Title 14, sections 308–311 (Security Deposit Act rules), your former landlord generally has 45 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites 14 DCMR §§ 308–311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where District of Columbia 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 D.C. Municipal Regulations Title 14, sections 308–311 (Security Deposit Act rules) (14 DCMR §§ 308–311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 45 days. An itemized statement of the repairs and other uses of the money, with the cost of each, must be provided within 30 days after the notice of intent to withhold. 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 District of Columbia law allows claims up to $10,000, and I will pursue every remedy available under 14 DCMR §§ 308–311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17, 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 District of Columbia
- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Governing statute
- 14 DCMR §§ 308–311; D.C. Code § 42-3502.17
- When the clock starts
- Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest or give written notice (personally delivered or by certified mail) of intent to withhold; if notice is given, an itemized statement of repairs and refund of any balance is due within 30 days after that notice.
- Itemized deductions
- An itemized statement of the repairs and other uses of the money, with the cost of each, must be provided within 30 days after the notice of intent to withhold.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- Missing either deadline is prima facie evidence the tenant is entitled to the full deposit plus interest, and a bad-faith withholding — a frivolous or unfounded refusal motivated by a fraudulent, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose — makes the landlord liable for treble the amount withheld (14 DCMR § 309.5).
- Small claims limit
- $10,000 (Small Claims Branch, D.C. Superior Court, D.C. Code § 11-1321)
Worth knowing: DC caps deposits at one month's rent and requires them to sit in an interest-bearing escrow account, with the bank and prevailing rate posted at the property. Interest accrues at the bank's statement-savings rate and must be paid out for tenancies of 12 months or more. Nothing may be withheld for ordinary wear and tear, which by statute includes breakage or malfunction due to age. Tenants can bring non-return and unpaid-interest complaints to the Office of Administrative Hearings instead of court, and the Office of the Tenant Advocate offers free help.
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 District of Columbia small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest or give written notice (personally delivered or by certified mail) of intent to withhold; if notice is given, an itemized statement of repairs and refund of any balance is due within 30 days after that notice.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($10,000 (Small Claims Branch, D.C. Superior Court, D.C. Code § 11-1321)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
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Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?
Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the deposit with interest or give written notice (personally delivered or by certified mail) of intent to withhold; if notice is given, an itemized statement of repairs and refund of any balance is due within 30 days after that notice. The governing statute is D.C. Municipal Regulations Title 14, sections 308–311 (Security Deposit Act rules). An itemized statement of the repairs and other uses of the money, with the cost of each, must be provided within 30 days after the notice of intent to withhold.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in District of Columbia?
Missing either deadline is prima facie evidence the tenant is entitled to the full deposit plus interest, and a bad-faith withholding — a frivolous or unfounded refusal motivated by a fraudulent, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose — makes the landlord liable for treble the amount withheld (14 DCMR § 309.5). These cases are built for small claims court — the District of Columbia limit is $10,000 (Small Claims Branch, D.C. Superior Court, D.C. Code § 11-1321), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else District of Columbia renters should know about deposits?
DC caps deposits at one month's rent and requires them to sit in an interest-bearing escrow account, with the bank and prevailing rate posted at the property. Interest accrues at the bank's statement-savings rate and must be paid out for tenancies of 12 months or more. Nothing may be withheld for ordinary wear and tear, which by statute includes breakage or malfunction due to age. Tenants can bring non-return and unpaid-interest complaints to the Office of Administrative Hearings instead of court, and the Office of the Tenant Advocate offers free help.
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