Free case analysis · all 50 states + DC
Landlord kept your deposit?
See what you can dispute.
Understand your possible recovery, the rules behind your claim, and what evidence to gather.
Start here: when must your landlord return it?
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From your facts to a letter.
See how a California dispute becomes a demand letter, a charge analysis, and an evidence checklist.
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Enter the withheld amount and charges. Upload documents if you have them.
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- Withheld
- $1,900
- Accepted charges
- $400
- Demanded back
- $1,500
Generated sample · California case
The argument and the amount, in writing.
Excerpts from the generated demand letter:
• Repainting ordinary wall scuffs - $1,000.00 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.
I demand payment of $1,500.00, the amount improperly withheld from my deposit.
Legal basis: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 ↗
Read the full generated letter
Maya Patel (fictional tenant) [Fictional current mailing address] September 07, 2026 Daniel Reed (fictional landlord) [Fictional landlord mailing address] SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED RE: Demand for return of security deposit - [Fictional California rental address] Dear Daniel Reed (fictional landlord): I vacated the above rental property on August 01, 2026 and paid a security deposit of $2,000.00. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (California Security Deposit Law), the applicable return rule is: 21 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement. DISPUTED DEDUCTIONS I dispute the following deductions under Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 for the reasons below. Please provide the records supporting each disputed charge, including the work, cost, and condition at issue. For replacement charges, explain the item's age and how you calculated the amount charged: • Repainting ordinary wall scuffs - $1,000.00 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. • General cleaning fee - $500.00 Unsubstantiated - proof demanded. Cleaning may be deductible to restore move-in cleanliness, subject to the state's documentation rules. Request an itemized explanation of the work and supporting records. I do not contest the following deductions, totaling $400.00: Unpaid rent balance ($400.00). This demand does not cancel any accepted debt. Any separate claim or counterclaim must credit amounts already paid or retained toward that debt. DEMAND I demand payment of $1,500.00, the amount improperly withheld from my deposit. This demand is limited to the amount improperly withheld. The applicable statutory remedy is conditional: under Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(m), bad-faith retention of a deposit exposes you to statutory damages of up to twice the deposit, in addition to actual damages. I reserve the right to seek that remedy if its conditions are established in court. Please deliver payment to the address above no later than September 21, 2026 (14 days from the date of this letter). This requested date does not shorten any statutory notice or cure period. If this remains unresolved after the applicable notice, service and waiting requirements are satisfied, I intend to file suit in small claims court. I have retained dated photographs of the property's condition, the lease, our correspondence, your itemized statement, the repair receipts you provided, and this demand letter. Sincerely, Maya Patel (fictional tenant) Enclosures: Evidence exhibit list
Sample facts and assumptions
The statement arrived on time. The tenant disputes repainting and cleaning, accepts the unpaid rent, and has dated photos to support the dispute.
All parties and facts are fictional. The sample shows the format and reasoning you receive, not a customer outcome. Your facts and state determine your own analysis.
Download the full sample (.txt) ↓A landlord may still pursue an unpaid accepted charge in a separate claim or counterclaim, so net recovery can be lower. Money already paid or retained toward that charge must be credited. The $400 rent balance retained in this sample is already excluded from the demand.
Use your own facts to see which charges you can dispute.
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$29-$49
Your facts and disputed charges assembled into a letter, evidence checklist, and next-step plan. Review and edit, then sign and send.
$29 for smaller disputes: when the amount withheld is under $500. $49 for $500 or more. Both prices include the same complete case documents. Your price is shown before checkout.
- Demand letter with state-specific citations
- Disputed-charge table
- Numbered evidence checklist
- State-specific small-claims roadmap
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Free guides · all 50 states + DC
Find your state’s rules.
Return deadlines, deduction rules, and next steps, with links to official sources. Read any guide without an account or purchase. Coverage and exceptions vary by state and situation.
Built on sources you can check
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your claim.
Follow the citations to the official statutes, compare the state rules, and see how the underlying data is checked. The guides and reference tables are free to read and share.
How we check the statute data →Sources you can inspect
State guides link to official statute text and show their individual review dates.
Latest recorded statute review: .
Compare state rules and sources →Check the citations and your own facts before using a document. The case documents are not an attorney review or a guarantee of recovery.
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Before you begin.
Does a passed deadline mean I will get paid?
A passed deadline alone does not establish a violation. The analysis also needs to know what the landlord returned or itemized, and when. Recovery is not guaranteed.
What if I don’t have all the paperwork?
Start with what you know. The case builder asks what evidence you have and helps you see what to gather. Uploading documents is optional.
Do you send the letter for me?
You can print, sign, and mail it yourself. If a mailing option is available for your case, its price and delivery details are shown before you pay.
What if the landlord ignores it?
Keep a copy and proof of delivery. Your case documents include a state-specific small-claims roadmap so you can review your options. Filing a case is a separate decision and court fees are not included.
Put your case together.
Start with your dates and the charges you want to dispute.