How to politely ask for your security deposit back?
Ask For Your Security Deposit:
If you just moved out as a renter, you have the right to get your security deposit back, plus any applicable interest. Find out what you need to do to get your security deposit back without going to court.
As per the terms of your lease, you will want your security deposit back after you give your landlord notice that you will be moving out. But it can be hard to get the landlord to return the security deposit. In most states, it is against the law to not return a security deposit. A landlord has to give you back your security deposit, even if you don’t have the right to get the full amount.
What a Security Deposit Is for?
A security deposit protects the landlord in case the apartment is damaged in any way, whether it’s just a little bit or a lot. The deposit is a way to remind you, the renter, to take care of the apartment and pay your rent on time. It can sometimes be used as the last month’s rent, but most landlords won’t let you do that.
Most of the time, a security deposit is given to the landlord when the lease starts. Depending on the state you live in, a security deposit can be anywhere from one month’s rent to three months’ rent.
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Depending on what state the apartment is in, the landlord may have anywhere from 14 to 30 days notice to return the deposit.
Only a few states don’t have a set time limit or have laws that say the landlord has to return the deposit within “a reasonable amount of time.” “a word that is left up to the court to decide what it means. One to three months could be seen as reasonable, but six months could be seen as too long.
Checklist for Moving In
The landlord should have given you a moving-in checklist when you moved in. Most of the time, this document never gets to the tenant.
Even if you don’t get one, you should make your own moving-in checklist, inspect the property, and take photos of the apartment, condo, or house to show how it looked when you moved in. So, a landlord can’t say that you caused damage that was already there.
Make sure the list is complete and has every item on it. Write down on the checklist what kind of damage is already there. Take photos of each room to add to the list in case the landlord doesn’t do it or in the rare case that the landlord changes the photos.
Walk through the house cleaning with the landlord and carefully look at each room. You and the landlord should agree on what is worn, broken, or out of the ordinary and write it on the checklist. You should make a copy for yourself and one for the landlord.
Costs that should be taken out of a security deposit
Normal wear and tear is not a reason for a landlord to take money out of your security deposit. Normal wear and tear is defined differently by each state, but it usually includes things like worn carpeting, broken appliances from constant use (especially in long-term leases of a few years or more), peeling paint, and other small changes that would be expected from someone living in an apartment for a year or more.
Most of the time, you are responsible for anything that isn’t normal wear and tear, such as:
Walls or floors with holes
- Burns on the carpet
- Broken appliances, unless you gave the landlord written notice and he or she didn’t fix them.
- Broken windows are a sign of unusual and extreme wear and tear.
A house that was very dirty
If you rent an apartment or house and have guests there, you are responsible for any damage they cause, as if you did it.
At the end of lease cleaning, do another walk-through with the landlord. Let the landlord check out the house so she can tell you about any damage right away. Write down what she says.
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Take pictures of the rental when you leave.
What’s in a letter to return a security deposit?
If the landlord hasn’t given you back your security deposit, you need to write a demand letter. Include the following information and send the letter via certified mail with a request for a return receipt. In some cases, you may have to admit that the unit has been damaged.
Make copies of the letter in case you need it in the future or if you have to go to small claims court with the landlord.
In a letter to return a security deposit, you should include the following:
- The letter’s date and the full name and address of the landlord
- The address of the home you rented and the date you moved in.
- A statement that you have paid your rent on time and are up to date with your payments and any pre-existing damage.
- A statement that you gave the landlord proper written notice of your move-out, such as a 30-day notice, or that the lease has ended.
- Tell the landlord what the apartment looked like when you moved out, such as “it was cleaner than when you moved in,” and if you have pictures to back it up.
Why is it that you haven’t gotten your security deposit back even though the landlord is supposed to do so?
The exact amount of the security deposit you are entitled to, as well as the words “plus interest required by law.” “or similar wording.
Your new address, whether or not you’ve already told the landlord about it, and when you did. The date by which you were supposed to get your security deposit back, according to state law. A demand for the full amount of the deposit to be returned right away, along with a deadline, such as “no later than seven (7) days, “When that happens, you will go to small claims court.
