Indiana security deposit demand letter
A demand letter that cites Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-15 and the 45-day deadline is the step that gets most deposits back - landlords settle when they see you know the statute. Below is a free template; the generator fills in your amounts, dates, and violations for you.
The template
Replace every [bracketed] field, print two copies, sign, and send one by certified mail with return receipt. Keep the receipt - it proves the date of your demand.
[Your name] [Your current address] [Date] [Landlord or property manager name] [Landlord's address] SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED RE: Demand for return of security deposit - [rental property address] Dear [Landlord]: I vacated the above rental property on [move-out date] and paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount]. Under Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-15 (Indiana Security Deposit Law), you were required to return my deposit with any lawful itemized deductions within 45 days. DEMAND I demand payment of $[amount improperly withheld], the amount improperly withheld from my deposit. Be advised that No statutory multiplier: the remedy is total forfeiture of deductions - the tenant recovers all of the deposit due plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 32-31-3-12(b)). Should this matter proceed to court, I will seek all damages the statute allows, plus court costs. Please deliver payment to the address above no later than [date 14 days from today]. If I do not receive full payment by that date, I will file suit in Small claims docket, circuit/superior court (Marion County: township Small Claims Courts) without further notice. I have retained documentation of the property's condition, our correspondence, and this demand. Sincerely, [Your signature] Enclosures: [list your evidence - photos, lease, itemized statement]
A draft for you to review, edit, and sign - verify every citation against the current statute · not legal advice
A template can't check your case. The generator can.
The free analysis reviews each deduction against Indiana's wear-and-tear rules, spots procedural violations (like a missed 45-day deadline), computes the statutory damages you can demand, and writes the letter with your numbers and the exact citations - ready to print and sign.
Build my case - free analysis →Make the letter stronger
- State a number, not a feeling. Demand a specific dollar amount and say how you got it. Vague letters get vague replies.
- Cite the statute by section. Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-15 tells the landlord you'll be credible in court. No statutory multiplier: the remedy is total forfeiture of deductions - the tenant recovers all of the deposit due plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 32-31-3-12(b)).
- Set a deadline and a consequence. 14 days to pay, then you file in Small claims docket, circuit/superior court (Marion County: township Small Claims Courts) (handles claims up to $10,000). Then actually do it.
- Mention your evidence. Photos, the lease, texts. You don't need to attach everything - naming it is often enough to change the landlord's math.
Frequently asked questions
What should a Indiana security deposit demand letter include?
Your move-out date, the deposit amount, the amount withheld, a cite to Ind. Code §§ 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-15, a specific dollar demand, a payment deadline (14 days is customary), and notice that you will file in Small claims docket, circuit/superior court (Marion County: township Small Claims Courts) if ignored. Send it by certified mail with return receipt and keep the receipt.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Indiana?
No. A demand letter is a routine self-help document, and deposit disputes are exactly what small claims courts are designed to handle without lawyers. A letter that cites the statute and states a deadline is usually taken seriously on its own.
What happens if the landlord ignores the letter?
You can file in Small claims docket, circuit/superior court (Marion County: township Small Claims Courts) (claims up to $10,000; filing fees ~$35-$97 by county (Marion County townships ~$45)). Your demand letter and the certified-mail receipt become evidence that you asked first - courts expect that, and it makes wrongful withholding look deliberate.
What penalties does Indiana law allow if the withholding was wrongful?
No statutory multiplier: the remedy is total forfeiture of deductions - the tenant recovers all of the deposit due plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 32-31-3-12(b)). The deterrent is fee-shifting plus the § 32-31-3-15 deemed agreement that no damages are due.