Ready-to-send local document
Security deposit demand letter Landlord still holding your deposit? Send a formal return demand.
Get a ready-to-send formal document with a clear demand, a deadline, relevant U.S. rules, and the next practical step. PDF and editable DOCX included.
$4.99 · One-time payment
Example situation
I moved out six weeks ago and my landlord has neither returned my deposit nor sent an itemized deduction list.
Before you send your letter
Include the rental location and move-out facts
Your city and state matter because security-deposit requirements are local, not one nationwide rule. Give the property address, landlord or management company's name, deposit amount and move-out date. Mention when you returned the keys and supplied a forwarding address. If there was an inspection, include what was recorded. Describe any deductions or partial payment already received. Keep the lease, payment evidence, move-out photographs and correspondence together. A clear sequence lets the letter focus on the deposit still at issue rather than reopening every disagreement from the tenancy.
Ask for the missing balance or an explanation
State the amount you believe should be returned and explain why you disagree with any deductions. If the landlord has not explained the withholding, ask for an itemized explanation and supporting information, subject to the rules that apply in your state. Do not assume that an example deadline from another state applies to your lease. Distinguish the landlord's applicable return deadline from the date you request a reply to this letter. Include a usable mailing address or agreed payment method so repayment is practical, not just a demand in principle.
Use the lease contact and keep delivery evidence
Check where the lease directs notices and whether the landlord has provided a different written address. Send the final letter through the required channel, keeping your own copy and the attachments. Certified Mail can provide mailing and delivery records; add Return Receipt if you want a signature record. An email copy can be useful too, but should not replace a required notice method. Keep any response beside the original letter. If management changes, record who held the deposit and who is now responding instead of guessing which company is responsible.
Know your state's deadline before you set one
Return deadlines come from state law, so the letter uses your location. In California the landlord generally must return the balance with an itemized statement within 21 days after you move out (Civil Code section 1950.5). In New York it is generally 14 days after you vacate (General Obligations Law section 7-108). In Texas the balance is generally due within 30 days after you surrender the premises, and the duty depends on your written forwarding address (Property Code sections 92.103 to 92.109). Florida generally requires the deposit back within 15 days, or a certified-mail notice of a claim within 30 days (Florida Statutes section 83.49). Ohio requires an itemized notice with the amount due within 30 days after you leave and give a forwarding address in writing (Revised Code section 5321.16). Other states set their own periods. If the landlord still does not pay, small claims court is a common next step, but filing rules and remedies vary. Do not add penalties to your demand just because an online example includes them.
Before you pay
Do I need to know which document or law I need?
No. Describe the problem in your own words and DocBrain chooses the most useful document and supporting rules.
What if I do not know every date or detail?
You still receive a complete document. Any genuinely missing fact appears as a clear editable placeholder.
Is this a subscription?
No. The price is $4.99 for this one document bundle, with no recurring charge.