Landlord kept your deposit in Nevada? Here's what to do.
Nevada law is on your side: your landlord had 30 days under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242 to return your deposit or itemize deductions. The playbook below is how tenants actually get the money back — usually without a lawyer.
The four steps, in order
- 1
Pin down the deadline
Count 30 days from your move-out date. Failure or refusal to return the remainder within 30 days triggers statutory damages under NRS 118A.242(6). If the deadline already passed with no refund and no itemized statement, write that date down — the missed deadline is often a stronger claim than arguing about any individual charge.
- 2
Gather your evidence
Lease, move-in/move-out photos or video, every message with the landlord, and the itemized statement if you got one. No photos? You are not out of luck — the landlord bears the burden of proving damage beyond normal wear and tear , and Nevada has documentation rules working for you: The statute requires an itemized accounting but no attached receipts.
- 3
Send a certified-mail demand letter
A formal letter citing Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242, disputing improper charges line by line, and giving a 14-day deadline resolves most cases — landlords settle when they see you know the statute. The landlord is liable for (a) an amount equal to the entire deposit AND (b) a further sum fixed by the court of up to the entire deposit — total exposure up to 2x the deposit; the discretionary second component weighs the landlord's good faith, course of conduct, and harm to the tenant (NRS 118A.242(6)). That exposure is your leverage: put it in the letter.
- 4
File in Small Claims (Justice Court)
If they ignore you, sue in Small Claims (Justice Court) — up to $10,000, filing fees around $66–$196 by claim size (Las Vegas tiers; townships vary), no lawyer needed. Bring a numbered evidence binder and a one-page damages summary; deposit cases are among the most tenant-friendly matters on the small-claims docket.
What's actually deductible — and what isn't
Ordinary wear and tear is never deductible: faded paint, small nail holes, carpet worn by normal use. Legitimate deductions are limited to damage beyond normal use, unpaid rent, and charges the statute allows. Flat cleaning fees without receipts, the landlord's own labor billed by the hour with no records, repainting after a multi-year tenancy, and re-renting costs are the charges tenants dispute — and win — most often.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my landlord kept my deposit in Nevada?
Check the statutory deadline. No later than 30 days after termination the landlord must provide an itemized written accounting of the deposit's disposition and return the remainder, personally or by mail. If the deadline has passed with no refund or itemized statement, that failure itself is often your strongest claim — document the date you moved out and everything you have received since.
Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in Nevada?
Usually not. Most deposit disputes settle after a formal demand letter citing Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242, and if not, Small Claims (Justice Court) (up to $10,000) is designed for self-represented tenants — filing fees run $66–$196 by claim size (Las Vegas tiers; townships vary).
What if I don't have move-in photos?
You can still win. The burden of proving damage beyond normal wear and tear is on the landlord, and procedural failures — a missed deadline, no itemized statement, no receipts — don't depend on photos. Gather your lease, messages, and any witnesses instead.
What can I recover if the landlord acted in bad faith in Nevada?
The landlord is liable for (a) an amount equal to the entire deposit AND (b) a further sum fixed by the court of up to the entire deposit — total exposure up to 2x the deposit; the discretionary second component weighs the landlord's good faith, course of conduct, and harm to the tenant (NRS 118A.242(6)).
Turn this playbook into your case — in 20 minutes
Enter your dates, deposit, and the landlord's charges; get a charge-by-charge analysis against Nev. Rev. Stat. § 118A.242, a certified-mail-ready demand letter, an evidence pack, and dated next steps.
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