Landlord kept your deposit in Connecticut? 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 Connecticut 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. The deposit and interest, less lawful deductions, must be returned within 21 days after termination of the tenancy or 15 days after receipt of the tenant's forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.
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 Connecticut accounting rule: Any withholding for damages requires a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages, delivered within the deadline.
Check interest too. Annual interest at the deposit index rate set by the Banking Commissioner, paid or credited each year and returned with the deposit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(i)).
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 Connecticut: No statutory receipts-attachment requirement; only the itemized statement of the nature and amount of damages.
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 the response with both dates before claiming a late return. Include deposit interest when reviewing the amount due.
See the Connecticut 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 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21.
- 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 Connecticut example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Nail holes and minor scuffs: $450
- Records to attach
- move-in photos and move-out photos
Open PDF ↗In the generated letter
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible. Nail holes, scuffs and fading are textbook ordinary wear and tear.
Prefer to write it yourself? Use the free Connecticut letter template.
Before you call the refund late
The deposit and interest, less lawful deductions, must be returned within 21 days after termination of the tenancy or 15 days after receipt of the tenant's forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 ↗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 Connecticut?
Check the statutory deadline. The deposit and interest, less lawful deductions, must be returned within 21 days after termination of the tenancy or 15 days after receipt of the tenant's forwarding address in writing, whichever is later. 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 Connecticut?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $5,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $95, added to the judgment if you win.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 21 days in Connecticut?
Failure to return the balance or provide the itemized statement in time makes the landlord liable for twice the amount of the security deposit; interest-only violations carry twice the accrued interest (minimum $10).
Am I owed interest on my deposit in Connecticut?
In at least some cases, yes. Annual interest at the deposit index rate set by the Banking Commissioner, paid or credited each year and returned with the deposit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(i)).
What can I ask to recover in a Connecticut deposit dispute?
A violating landlord is 'liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid' (§ 47a-21(d)) - the base is the full deposit, and the small-claims $5,000 cap does not block the doubled recovery (per CT Judicial Branch). Knowing and wilful interest violations also carry fines up to $100 per offense; the Banking Commissioner investigates complaints.
Read the full Connecticut deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.