Landlord kept your deposit in Alaska? 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 Alaska 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. 14 days after termination and delivery of possession with proper termination notice and rent-only deductions; 30 days if deductions cover damages beyond normal wear or the tenant failed to give proper notice.
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 Alaska accounting rule: Accrued rent and damages applied against the deposit must be itemized in a written notice mailed to the tenant's last known address within the time limits, with the amount due (§ 34.03.070(b)).
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 Alaska: No receipts requirement; deposits must be kept in a trust account with per-tenant accounting, and the signed move-in condition statement is the key proof in damage disputes.
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.
Check the mailed itemization against the applicable 14- or 30-day period. A damage dispute needs the condition records, not only a calendar calculation.
See the Alaska 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 Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070.
- 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 Alaska 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 Alaska letter template.
Before you call the refund late
14 days after termination and delivery of possession with proper termination notice and rent-only deductions; 30 days if deductions cover damages beyond normal wear or the tenant failed to give proper notice.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 ↗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 Alaska?
Check the statutory deadline. 14 days after termination and delivery of possession with proper termination notice and rent-only deductions; 30 days if deductions cover damages beyond normal wear or the tenant failed to give proper notice. 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 Alaska?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $10,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $50 for claims up to $2,500, $100 above that.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 14 or 30 days in Alaska?
Without the required itemized notice the landlord loses the right to keep the money; wilful noncompliance with (b) exposes the landlord to up to twice the amount withheld.
What can I ask to recover in a Alaska deposit dispute?
Wilful failure to comply: the tenant may recover up to twice the actual amount withheld (§ 34.03.070(d)). The doubling is not automatic - the statute says 'not to exceed' twice the amount, so the court sets the figure, and it applies only when the failure was wilful.
Read the full Alaska deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.