Landlord kept your deposit in Maryland? 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 Maryland 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. Deposit plus simple interest due within 45 days after the end of the tenancy (§ 8-203(e)(1)); any itemized damage list must go by first-class mail within the same 45 days (§ 8-203(g)(1)).
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 Maryland accounting rule: Written list of damages claimed plus a statement of costs actually incurred, mailed within 45 days; deductions limited to unpaid rent, breach damages, and damage beyond ordinary wear by the tenant or their guests.
Check interest too. Deposits of $50+ held 6+ months accrue simple interest at the greater of 1.5% a year or the U.S. Treasury yield curve rate, payable at return (Md. Real Prop. § 8-203(e)).
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 Maryland: The landlord must give a written receipt for the deposit itself (§ 8-203.1); the 45-day itemization requires a statement of costs actually incurred, not third-party repair receipts.
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 written list, actual-cost statement and refund. Retain any inspection notices because the opportunity to inspect can matter to your dispute.
See the Maryland 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 Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203.
- 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 Maryland 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 Maryland letter template.
Before you call the refund late
Deposit plus simple interest due within 45 days after the end of the tenancy (§ 8-203(e)(1)); any itemized damage list must go by first-class mail within the same 45 days (§ 8-203(g)(1)).
Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-203 ↗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 Maryland?
Check the statutory deadline. Deposit plus simple interest due within 45 days after the end of the tenancy (§ 8-203(e)(1)); any itemized damage list must go by first-class mail within the same 45 days (§ 8-203(g)(1)). 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 Maryland?
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 $34-$44 plus service ($10 certified mail or $40 sheriff per defendant).
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 45 days in Maryland?
No itemized list within 45 days forfeits the right to withhold any part for damages (§ 8-203(g)(2)); withholding without a reasonable basis exposes the landlord to up to threefold damages.
Am I owed interest on my deposit in Maryland?
In at least some cases, yes. Deposits of $50+ held 6+ months accrue simple interest at the greater of 1.5% a year or the U.S. Treasury yield curve rate, payable at return (Md. Real Prop. § 8-203(e)).
What can I ask to recover in a Maryland deposit dispute?
Failure to return the deposit plus interest within 45 days without a reasonable basis: the tenant may recover up to threefold of the withheld amount plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 8-203(e)(4)) - discretionary ('up to'). Charging above the 1-month cap separately allows recovery of up to 3x the excess plus fees (§ 8-203(b)(3)).
Read the full Maryland deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.