Landlord kept your deposit in California? 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 California 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. 21 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement.
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 California accounting rule: Itemized statement generally due within 21 days. Supporting repair and cleaning cost records are subject to the aggregate $125 exception, valid waivers, good-faith estimates and subsequent document requests in section 1950.5(h)(2)-(5).
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 California: Repair and cleaning documentation is subject to Civil Code 1950.5(h)(2)-(5). The $125 exception concerns aggregate repair and cleaning deductions, not each charge. Written waivers, good-faith estimates and later tenant requests have separate rules.
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.
If the landlord used a permitted estimate, track the follow-up documentation. Separate your refund request from any claim for additional damages that requires further proof.
See the California 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 Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5.
- 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 California example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Repainting ordinary wall scuffs: $1,000
- 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 California letter template.
Before you call the refund late
21 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 ↗Deposit statute reviewed July 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 California?
Check the statutory deadline. 21 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement. 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 California?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $12,500) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $30-$75 depending on claim size.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 21 days in California?
Missing the 21-day deadline costs the landlord the statutory right to withhold; bad-faith noncompliance forfeits the right to claim any portion of the deposit (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(7)), and the tenant may sue for the full amount plus up to a 2x penalty.
What can I ask to recover in a California deposit dispute?
Bad-faith retention (or a bad-faith demand) exposes the landlord to statutory damages of up to twice the deposit, in addition to actual damages (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(m)).
Read the full California deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.