Landlord kept your deposit in Arizona? 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 Arizona 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, excluding weekends and holidays (business days), running from termination, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant (§ 33-1321(D)).
Arizona counts the clock from three events together: termination, delivery of possession, and your demand (§ 33-1321(D)). Making that demand in writing and keeping the date is how you prove the clock started, though the statute does not prescribe a form.
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 Arizona accounting rule: An itemized list of all deductions must go out with any refund within the window; if the tenant does not dispute deductions in writing within 60 days of mailing, the accounting becomes 'valid and final'.
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 Arizona: No receipts requirement; instead: a required signed move-in condition form, a written purpose statement for any nonrefundable fee (otherwise it is refundable), and the tenant's right on request to attend the move-out inspection.
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.
Keep the envelope with the accounting: the 60-day dispute window runs from mailing. A proposed response date in your letter does not extend that window.
See the Arizona 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 Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321.
- 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 Arizona 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 Arizona letter template.
Before you call the refund late
14 days, excluding weekends and holidays (business days), running from termination, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant (§ 33-1321(D)).
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1321 ↗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 Arizona?
Check the statutory deadline. 14 days, excluding weekends and holidays (business days), running from termination, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant (§ 33-1321(D)). 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 Arizona?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, justice court (limit: $5,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run about $40-$75 depending on county.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 14 days excluding weekends and legal holidays in Arizona?
Missing the deadline lets the tenant recover the property and money due, plus damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (§ 33-1321(E)).
What can I ask to recover in a Arizona deposit dispute?
Fixed, no bad-faith element: the tenant may recover the money due together with damages equal to twice the amount wrongfully withheld (§ 33-1321(E)) - the 2x stacks on the refund, for an effective 3x exposure.
Read the full Arizona deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.