New York security deposit law: know your rights.
Understand the return, deduction and notice rules in New York. Check which conditions apply to your rental, then choose your next step.
Your deposit rights in New York
- Return timing
- 14 days after the tenant vacates.
- Accounting for deductions
- Deposit plus an itemized statement of any deductions must be provided within 14 days of vacating.
- Deposit interest
- 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)).
Registry review: July 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules, not an attorney review of your case.
Does this rule apply to your rental?
Check the type of tenancy, the lease and any local or housing-program rules before relying on the statewide summary.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗What starts the return clock?
14 days after the tenant vacates.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗Check your return timing
Optional estimate from your move-out date. Read the start conditions above before treating that estimate as the return deadline. You can start the free analysis without completing this check.
Check what the landlord deducted
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.
Match each charge to the work alleged, the lease provision and the records supporting the amount. Keep refunds and charges you accept separate from those you dispute.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗What could you recover?
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).
Start with the unpaid amount you dispute. Any additional statutory recovery depends on the conditions in N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(g), including applicable notice requirements. A multiplier that already includes the deposit should not be added to that deposit again.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗Put the rules to work
See how the rules fit your deposit dispute
Free analysis
Add the refund, charges and records. Review the deductions and possible remedies with an explanation tied to your facts.
Full case package $29-$49
Turn your case into a demand letter, organized exhibits and a next-step plan. Review the analysis before deciding to buy.
Your entered dates and deposit amount carry forward. Additional timing details are saved in case notes. The next step asks for the refund and charges so you can build on this check.
Choose your next step
Small-claims limit: $10,000 in NYC; $5,000 in City Courts and Nassau/western Suffolk District Courts; $3,000 in Town/Village Courts. Filing: $10-$20 depending on court and claim amount. The court guide explains the applicable limits and additional costs.
Find your local guide
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
Questions about New York deposit rights
How long does a New York landlord have to return a security deposit?
14 days after the tenant vacates.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗See the timing rules →What happens if my landlord does not follow the deposit return rules 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. Keep proof of the dates, any refund, and the itemized statement.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗Understand the possible recovery →What accounting should I ask for in New York?
Deposit plus an itemized statement of any deductions must be provided within 14 days of vacating. 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.
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗What should I check about deposit interest in New York?
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)).
N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 ↗