Your landlord won't return your deposit? Here's exactly what to do.

What the law actually says

• A security deposit is your money. The landlord holds it as security against damage and unpaid rent — once you've moved out and cleared your dues, it has to come back to you.
• The landlord can only keep what's fair — the genuine cost of repairs beyond normal wear and tear, and any rent or bills you actually owe. They can't keep the whole deposit for routine repainting or normal use.
• Renting a home is governed by your state, not by any central law. Some states have brought in new tenancy laws that cap the deposit and set up a Rent Authority to settle disputes; others still run on older Rent Control Acts. The cap, and whether your state has a Rent Authority at all, depends on where you live — so check your own state's rules. The core principle is the same everywhere: the deposit is yours and it comes back when you hand over possession.
• If it isn't returned, recovering it is a civil money matter. A written demand usually settles it; if not, your state's Rent Authority, if it has one, or a civil or small-causes court can order it back, sometimes with interest. You have three years to go to court, so ask early and don't let it drift.

What to do

1. 1

   Ask in writing first

   A WhatsApp or email asking for the deposit back, with the date you vacated and your account details. This alone often works — and it creates a record that you asked.

2. 2

   Pin down the deductions

   If the landlord claims damage, ask for specifics and photos. Normal wear and tear — faded paint, minor marks — is not something you pay for, unless your rent agreement says otherwise. Agree only to genuine, itemised costs.

3. 3

   Send a formal demand (a legal notice)

   If they stall, a formal notice on letterhead giving a clear deadline (say 15 days) to refund is the usual turning point. It signals you're serious about going further.

4. 4

   Approach the Rent Authority or court

   Still no money? If your state has a Rent Authority, it handles deposit disputes quickly and cheaply. Elsewhere, a recovery suit in the civil or small-causes court does it. Keep your agreement, payment proofs and messages.

Your rights, at a glance

Common questions in this area

• Can your landlord raise the rent whenever they want?/tenant/rent-increase-rules
• How much notice do you have to give before leaving a rented home?/tenant/notice-to-vacate
• Landlord locking you out or entering without permission?/tenant/landlord-lockout-or-entry
• Landlord not returning your security deposit? Here's what you can do/tenant/security-deposit-not-returned

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