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Security Deposit Demand Letter Template

A formal written letter demanding that your landlord return your security deposit, or give an itemized statement of any lawful deductions, after you move out. Usable in any U.S. state. It also puts your forwarding address in writing, which some states require before the return deadline starts. Let AI fill it in with your details. Ready to sign in minutes.

US Federal · Landlord–Tenant1 pagePDF · WordU.S. law

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DEMAND FOR RETURN OF SECURITY DEPOSIT

[Date]

From: [Your name] [Your forwarding address]

To: [Landlord name] [Landlord address]

Re: Return of security deposit

Rental unit: [the address you rented]

My tenancy and deposit

I rented the property at [the rental address] and moved out on [your move-out date]. At the start of the tenancy I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. My forwarding address for the refund is shown above.

State law requires my deposit back

Under my state's security-deposit law, after a tenancy ends a landlord must return the deposit, or provide a written, itemized statement of any lawful deductions and return the balance, within the deadline set by state law. As of today I have not received a proper refund or itemized statement.

Deductions

I am not aware of any lawful basis to withhold any part of my deposit.

My demand

I demand that you return my security deposit of $[amount], less only any lawful and itemized deductions, within [14] days of the date of this letter, mailed to my forwarding address above.

If you do not return the deposit or provide a proper itemized statement by then, I may file a claim in small claims court to recover it, plus any additional damages and court costs allowed by my state's law (some states award two or three times a deposit that was wrongfully withheld in bad faith).

I would prefer to resolve this directly. Please treat this letter as my formal written demand and as written notice of my forwarding address. I am keeping a copy and proof of mailing.

Sincerely, [Your name]

What's in this template?

The Security Deposit Demand Letter template organizes the following sections in line with U.S. law. AI fills in the document automatically from the details you provide.

Re: Return of security deposit
My tenancy and deposit
State law requires my deposit back
Deductions
My demand

Frequently asked questions

Is this template legally valid?+

The template is drafted to follow the relevant statutes and, once signed, forms a valid document in most cases. Some matters may require notarization, a witness, or a specific format; consult a licensed attorney for your situation.

Can I edit it in Word?+

Yes. You can download the document as a PDF or an editable Word (.docx) file.

What does filling with AI mean?+

You answer a few questions; LawyerAI fills in the blanks and adapts the clauses for you.

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