Landlord kept your deposit in Washington? 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 Washington 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. 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, the landlord must deliver or mail a full and specific written statement with documentation plus any refund due (extended from 21 days by 2023 amendments).
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 Washington accounting rule: The statement must be 'full and specific' - each basis for withholding listed with its cost - and postmarked within the 30-day window; a statement without supporting cost documentation is noncompliant.
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 Washington: Since July 2023 the landlord must attach copies of estimates, invoices, bills, or receipts for repair/cleaning costs (and a time-and-rate statement for their own labor); deductions are barred for ordinary wear, undocumented move-in-checklist items, or costs exceeding replacement value (RCW 59.18.280).
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 full accounting and documentation with the 30-day rule and any statutory exceptions. Additional recovery depends on the applicable conditions and the court's determination.
See the Washington 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 RCW 59.18.280.
- 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 Washington 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 Washington letter template.
Before you call the refund late
30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, the landlord must deliver or mail a full and specific written statement with documentation plus any refund due (extended from 21 days by 2023 amendments).
RCW 59.18.280 ↗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 Washington?
Check the statutory deadline. 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, the landlord must deliver or mail a full and specific written statement with documentation plus any refund due (extended from 21 days by 2023 amendments). 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 Washington?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $10,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $35-$50.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 30 days in Washington?
The landlord becomes liable for the full deposit, cannot withhold any portion, and (absent circumstances beyond their control) cannot charge for damages, report the debt to screening agencies, or send it to collections.
What can I ask to recover in a Washington deposit dispute?
For intentional refusal to provide the statement or refund, the court may award up to two times the full deposit (RCW 59.18.280(2)); the prevailing party also recovers court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
Read the full Washington deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.