Landlord kept your deposit in Alabama? Find your next step.
No refund, only part of your money back, or charges you disagree with? Start with what you received, then build a response using your records and Alabama law.
Analysis free · Full case package $29-$49, one time · mailing optional
The deadline check is optional. See what you get
What do you need help with?
Open the situation that fits. Each route gives you something to check, something to keep, and a next step.
I received nothingNo refund and no list of deductions.
Check the trigger, then the date. Refund (or balance with an itemized written notice) due within 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession; no tenant demand required.
Keep: your deposit payment, move-out or key-return record, forwarding-address notice and any earlier written request. These establish the timeline behind your demand.
Analyze my missing refund - free →I received part of my depositSome money came back. Find out what explains the difference.
Reconcile the refund. Compare the original deposit, what was returned and each deduction. Separate charges you accept from charges you dispute.
Check the amount they kept - free →Enter the refund and deductions in the case builder. You do not need a separate worksheet first.
The Alabama accounting rule: If not refunding the entire deposit, an itemized list of all amounts withheld is required within the 60-day period (§ 35-9A-201(b),(c)).
Keep: the refund record, deduction list and notice envelope or delivery record. If money is still unexplained, identify that gap in your written request.
I disagree with the deductionsYou have a charge list, whether or not a refund arrived.
Respond to the specific charges. Note each amount, why you dispute it, and which photo, message or record supports your position. Check the notice instructions above before choosing how and when to reply.
Check my deductions - free →The records rule in Alabama: No receipts or documentation requirement in the statute; deductions limited to accrued rent and damages from tenant noncompliance, itemized in writing.
No move-in photos? Use an inventory checklist, inspection report, dated repair request, messages or witness accounts to explain the condition.
I already sent a demandThe landlord has not paid, or the dispute is still unresolved.
Compare any balance and written itemization with the deposit paid. Keep proof of delivery and any unclaimed refund correspondence.
See the Alabama court route →Keep: your sent demand, delivery record and any reply. Use the court guide to check where to file, which forms to use, and the filing and service costs.
Turn the dispute into a documented demand
- Free: understand your dispute
- Add your refund, charges and records. Get a charge-by-charge analysis of the deposit rules and potential remedies under Ala. Code § 35-9A-201.
- Optional: your case documents, $29-$49
- Your demand letter, damages summary and evidence checklist, ready to review and send with your records. Mailing is optional and costs extra.
One charge, backed by a reason and records
Fictional Alabama example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Repainting ordinary wall scuffs: $900
- Records to attach
- move-in photos and move-out photos
Open PDF ↗In the generated letter
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible. Repainting after a tenancy is ordinary wear and tear unless the walls were damaged beyond normal use (large holes, unauthorized colors). Dated move-in and move-out photos help distinguish ordinary wear from tenant-caused damage.
Prefer to write it yourself? Use the free Alabama letter template.
Before you call the refund late
Refund (or balance with an itemized written notice) due within 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession; no tenant demand required.
Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 ↗Deposit statute reviewed August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules.
Check the return timeline
Optional date estimate. Read the start conditions above; a passed date alone does not establish a violation. Your date and deposit amount carry into the free analysis.
Already know the dates? Go straight to the refund and charges.
Continue to my free analysis →Questions before your next step
What should I do first if my landlord kept my deposit in Alabama?
Check the statutory deadline. Refund (or balance with an itemized written notice) due within 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession; no tenant demand required. Save your move-out records, any refund and the itemized statement. Compare them with the deadline and deduction rules below.
Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in Alabama?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $6,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run about $55-$100 depending on county and claim size.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 60 days in Alabama?
Failure to mail a timely refund or accounting within 60 days means the landlord shall pay the tenant double the amount of the original deposit (§ 35-9A-201(f)); the penalty is mandatory, with no bad-faith element. The statute does not expressly strip the landlord of the right to withhold - the double-deposit payment is the remedy.
What can I ask to recover in a Alabama deposit dispute?
Mandatory: 'the landlord shall pay the tenant double the amount of the tenant's original deposit' for failure to mail a timely refund or accounting (§ 35-9A-201(f)).
Read the full Alabama deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.