Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255free template

Oregon security deposit demand letter

A demand letter that cites Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 and the 31-day deadline is the step that gets most deposits back - landlords settle when they see you know the statute. Below is a free template; the generator fills in your amounts, dates, and violations for you.

Generate my letter →Oregon deposit-law guide Step-by-step playbook

The template

Replace every [bracketed] field, print two copies, sign, and send one by certified mail with return receipt. Keep the receipt - it proves the date of your demand.

[Your name]
[Your current address]

[Date]

[Landlord or property manager name]
[Landlord's address]

SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

RE: Demand for return of security deposit - [rental property address]

Dear [Landlord]:

I vacated the above rental property on [move-out date] and paid a security
deposit of $[deposit amount]. Under Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 (Oregon Security Deposit Law), you were required to return my deposit with any lawful itemized deductions within 31 days.

DEMAND

I demand payment of $[amount improperly withheld], the amount improperly
withheld from my deposit.

Be advised that Twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith (§ 90.300(16)) - the doubled amount is the total recovery. Should this matter
proceed to court, I will seek all damages the statute allows, plus court
costs.

Please deliver payment to the address above no later than [date 14 days
from today]. If I do not receive full payment by that date, I will file
suit in Small Claims Department, Circuit Court without further notice. I have retained documentation
of the property's condition, our correspondence, and this demand.

Sincerely,


[Your signature]

Enclosures: [list your evidence - photos, lease, itemized statement]

A draft for you to review, edit, and sign - verify every citation against the current statute · not legal advice

A template can't check your case. The generator can.

The free analysis reviews each deduction against Oregon's wear-and-tear rules, spots procedural violations (like a missed 31-day deadline), computes the statutory damages you can demand, and writes the letter with your numbers and the exact citations - ready to print and sign.

Build my case - free analysis →

Make the letter stronger

State a number, not a feeling. Demand a specific dollar amount and say how you got it. Vague letters get vague replies.
Cite the statute by section. Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255 tells the landlord you'll be credible in court. Twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith (§ 90.300(16)) - the doubled amount is the total recovery.
Set a deadline and a consequence. 14 days to pay, then you file in Small Claims Department, Circuit Court (handles claims up to $10,000). Then actually do it.
Mention your evidence. Photos, the lease, texts. You don't need to attach everything - naming it is often enough to change the landlord's math.

Frequently asked questions

What should a Oregon security deposit demand letter include?

Your move-out date, the deposit amount, the amount withheld, a cite to Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.300; fees ORS 90.255, a specific dollar demand, a payment deadline (14 days is customary), and notice that you will file in Small Claims Department, Circuit Court if ignored. Send it by certified mail with return receipt and keep the receipt.

Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Oregon?

No. A demand letter is a routine self-help document, and deposit disputes are exactly what small claims courts are designed to handle without lawyers. A letter that cites the statute and states a deadline is usually taken seriously on its own.

What happens if the landlord ignores the letter?

You can file in Small Claims Department, Circuit Court (claims up to $10,000; filing fees $57 (≤$2,500) / $102 (over) - 2026 schedule). Your demand letter and the certified-mail receipt become evidence that you asked first - courts expect that, and it makes wrongful withholding look deliberate.

What penalties does Oregon law allow if the withholding was wrongful?

Twice the amount withheld without a written accounting or withheld in bad faith (§ 90.300(16)) - the doubled amount is the total recovery. Prevailing-party attorney fees under ORS 90.255 (discretionary, two-way, non-waivable).