How to Get Your Security Deposit Back
Most security deposit disputes are won — or lost — in the first 30 days after move-out. Here's how to maximize the odds you get every dollar back.
Before you move out
Request a pre-move-out walk-through, take time-stamped photos of every room, return keys formally, and provide a written forwarding address. These three small steps make wrongful withholding extremely hard to defend.
After you move out
Wait for your state's required window to pass. If the deadline passes without a refund or itemized list, you have a strong claim immediately.
Send a demand, then escalate
A written demand letter resolves the majority of disputes. If your landlord refuses, small claims court is fast, affordable, and renter-friendly in most states.
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