Landlord kept your deposit in Idaho? 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 Idaho 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 due within 21 days after surrender if no time is fixed by agreement; the parties may agree on a different period, but never longer than 30 days after surrender (§ 6-321).
Idaho requires it: before suing you must serve a 3-day written notice listing the failure and demanding a cure (§ 6-320(d)).
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 Idaho accounting rule: Any partial refund must come with a signed statement itemizing the amounts retained, their purpose, and a detailed list of expenditures made from the deposit; no retention for normal wear and tear (§ 6-321).
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 Idaho: No express receipts requirement, but the required 'detailed list of expenditures made from the deposit' is an accounting of actual spending, not estimates.
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 proof of service and allow the cure period. Compare any signed itemization with the stated purpose and actual expenditures for each retained amount.
See the Idaho 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 Idaho Code § 6-321.
- 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 Idaho 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 Idaho letter template.
Before you call the refund late
Refund due within 21 days after surrender if no time is fixed by agreement; the parties may agree on a different period, but never longer than 30 days after surrender (§ 6-321).
Idaho Code §§ 6-321, 6-320, 6-317, 6-324 ↗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 Idaho?
Check the statutory deadline. Refund due within 21 days after surrender if no time is fixed by agreement; the parties may agree on a different period, but never longer than 30 days after surrender (§ 6-321). 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 Idaho?
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 about $69 - confirm with the clerk.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 21 or 30 days in Idaho?
No automatic forfeiture; the tenant sues under § 6-320 for failure to return the deposit, and the court may treble actual damages under § 6-317.
What can I ask to recover in a Idaho deposit dispute?
Discretionary treble damages: judgment 'may be entered for three times the amount at which the actual damages are assessed' (§ 6-317, via a § 6-320 action). Before suing, the tenant must serve a 3-day written notice listing the failure with a demand for cure (§ 6-320(d)). Attorney fees go to the prevailing party (§ 6-324), but not in cases where treble damages are awarded.
Read the full Idaho deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.