Security deposit return deadlines · Pennsylvania
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Pennsylvania?
30 days
A Pennsylvania landlord must, within 30 days after the lease ends or the landlord accepts surrender, give a written list of damages together with the remaining deposit.
Source: Pennsylvania Landlord and Tenant Act, 68 P.S. § 250.512 · checked October 9, 2026
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What Pennsylvania law says
- A landlord who does not provide the written list within 30 days loses the right to withhold any part of the deposit.
- A court can order a landlord who fails to pay the balance to pay double the amount wrongly withheld; this is a court remedy, not an amount owed automatically.
- Give the landlord a forwarding address and return the keys.
What to do next
- Write down the move-out date, the date you returned the keys and when you gave a forwarding address.
- Collect the lease, proof of the deposit payment, move-out photos and any messages about deductions.
- Ask in writing for the balance or an itemized explanation, with a clear reply date.
- Send it to the notice address in the lease. Certified Mail with Return Receipt gives you proof of delivery.
- If there is still no answer, small claims court is a common next step; filing rules vary by state.
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Other states
- California — 21 days
- Florida — 15 or 30 days
- Georgia — 30 days
- Illinois — 30 or 45 days
- Michigan — 30 days
- New York — 14 days
- North Carolina — 30 days
- Ohio — 30 days
- Texas — 30 days