FICTIONAL SAMPLE - NOT FOR SENDING Generated September 7, 2026 by GetMyDepositBack. All parties and case facts are fictional. Sources and amounts depend on the case. DEMAND 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 - $300.00 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 - $150.00 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 $450.00, 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 DISPUTED CHARGES Repainting ordinary wall scuffs - $300.00 Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible Evidence: move-in photos and move-out photos Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 General cleaning fee - $150.00 Unsubstantiated - proof demanded Evidence: move-in photos and move-out photos Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 EVIDENCE CHECKLIST Exhibit 1: Signed lease agreement Establishes deposit amount and terms Exhibit 2: Timestamped move-in photos/video Baseline condition at the start of tenancy Exhibit 3: Timestamped move-out photos/video Condition at surrender - rebuts damage claims Exhibit 4: Landlord's itemized statement Shows the charges being disputed and its date Exhibit 5: Correspondence with landlord Timeline, forwarding address, admissions Exhibit 6: Demand letter + certified mail receipt Proof of formal demand and date Exhibit 7: Charge-by-charge legal analysis Shows each deduction is improper, unsupported, or wear and tear, with statute citations - included as a formatted exhibit in the packet PDF SMALL-CLAIMS ROADMAP Assemble your evidence pack Number your exhibits: lease, move-in/move-out photos, the itemized statement, and all correspondence. The dispute packet assembles these into a numbered, court-ready exhibit list. 2026-09-07 Send the demand letter by certified mail Print two copies, sign, send one by certified mail with return receipt to the landlord's legal address. Keep the receipt - it proves the date of demand. 2026-09-10 Wait for the 14-day response window A formal letter puts your request and the statute in writing. Log any response or payment. If the window closes with nothing, come back and generate the escalation letter - a final notice before a court filing. Caution: in many states, cashing a check marked 'payment in full' (or with similar wording) can legally settle your entire claim - the rules vary by state, so before cashing one, check your state's rule or get advice. 2026-09-24 File in Small Claims Court If ignored, you can file in Small Claims Court (limit $12,500; filing fee $30-$75 by claim size ($100 for frequent filers)). These courts are designed for self-represented parties. Bring your evidence binder with numbered exhibits and a one-page damages summary. 2026-09-28 Serve the landlord and prepare for the hearing Follow your court's service rules (sheriff, process server, or certified mail). Rehearse a 3-minute summary: deposit paid, condition at move-out, statute violated, amount owed. 2026-10-12