Landlord kept your deposit in New York? 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 New York 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. 14 days after the tenant vacates.
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 New York accounting rule: Deposit plus an itemized statement of any deductions must be provided within 14 days of vacating.
Check interest too. Buildings of 6+ units: the deposit goes into an interest-bearing New York account at the prevailing rate; the landlord may keep a 1% administrative fee, the balance belongs to the tenant (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103(2-a)).
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 New York: The landlord must justify each deduction with an itemized statement; lawful deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid utilities, and moving/storage of the tenant's belongings. The AG advises demanding repair receipts for any damage claim.
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 itemized statement with the permitted deductions and any inspection opportunity. Keep any repair receipts you requested, without treating them as a universal attachment requirement.
See the New York 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 N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108.
- 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 New York 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 New York letter template.
Before you call the refund late
14 days after the tenant vacates.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗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 New York?
Check the statutory deadline. 14 days after the tenant vacates. 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 New York?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $10,000 in NYC; $5,000 in City Courts and Nassau/western Suffolk District Courts; $3,000 in Town/Village Courts) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $10-$20 depending on the court and claim amount.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 14 days in New York?
Failure to provide the deposit and itemized statement within 14 days means the landlord forfeits any right to retain any portion of the deposit.
Am I owed interest on my deposit in New York?
In at least some cases, yes. Buildings of 6+ units: the deposit goes into an interest-bearing New York account at the prevailing rate; the landlord may keep a 1% administrative fee, the balance belongs to the tenant (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103(2-a)).
What can I ask to recover in a New York deposit dispute?
A landlord who violates the deposit rules is liable for actual damages; a willful violation additionally carries punitive damages of up to twice the deposit (N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108).
Which courthouse is yours
New York sets the deposit rules state-wide, so what changes locally is which court hears the claim and how much it can hear. Each page carries that courthouse, its small claims part and sitting days, and the legal aid office that covers it.
New York City, county Civil Court - up to $10,000
Long Island, District Court - up to $5,000
Read the full New York deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.