Security deposit demand letter: free template for your state
Put your dates, disputed charges and state law into a clear written request. Choose your state for a free PDF or editable Word template, a browser editor, and the timing and sending steps that apply to your letter.
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Download your state's template
Every file below is free, needs no account, and cites its own state's statute, deadline and damages. The state name opens the full guide for that jurisdiction.
Why a state-specific letter beats a generic template
Deposit law is state law, and the numbers that give a letter its force differ everywhere. New York sets 14 days, California 21, Texas 30. Texas adds $100 plus three times the amount wrongfully withheld and your attorney's fees; other states double the deposit or forfeit the landlord's right to keep any of it.
A generic template cannot cite any of that, so it reads as a complaint rather than a notice of what happens next. Each template below carries its own state's citation, deadline and damages.
What to put in it
The property address and your move-out date, the deposit amount and what came back, the statute and the deadline it set, a specific sum demanded, and a date by which you expect payment. Attach your evidence - move-out photos, the lease, any itemized statement you were sent - and list the attachments in the letter.
Use the delivery method that fits the state procedure and keep a copy and proof of sending. Michigan requires an ordinary-mail response to a compliant damage notice; Utah has a separate statutory notice with specified service methods. The state pages explain these steps.
What happens if it is ignored
Small claims court is built for deposit disputes: no lawyer needed, filing fees usually $30 to $100, and limits well above a typical deposit. Several states let you recover the filing fee and your attorney's fees on top of the deposit if you win.
Most letters never get that far. The letter works because filing is a credible next step, and a letter that cites the statute correctly makes that credibility obvious.
Frequently asked questions
Are these demand letter templates really free?
Yes. Every state template downloads as a PDF or Word file with no account, no email and no payment. The free editor also fills in your dates, amounts and own explanations. Free analysis checks disputed charges; the optional paid case documents combine the personalized letter, damages summary and evidence checklist.
PDF or Word - which should I use?
Use Word to edit the blank template offline. Use the free browser editor to enter your details and download a draft PDF, or copy and print the letter. The blank PDF is a reference template; it does not contain interactive form fields.
Do I have to send it by certified mail?
Check the required method for your state and type of notice. Certified mail can provide a delivery record, but Michigan requires ordinary mail for the response to a compliant damage notice. Utah's statutory notice has its own service options. Keep the letter and the applicable mailing or service record.
How long should I give the landlord to respond?
Choose a response date after checking the state return deadline and any required notice or cure period. A proposed response date does not shorten those periods. Oklahoma ties its return period to a written demand; Utah uses a special notice and a five-business-day cure period. The state pages explain the distinction.
Can I still send one if the deadline passed months ago?
Yes. Your statute of limitations is typically several years, so an old deposit is usually still recoverable. A landlord who missed the deadline stays in the wrong regardless of how long you took to raise it.
Want it filled in rather than blank?
A template leaves you to work out which deductions were unlawful and what your state lets you claim. The case builder does that part: it checks whether the deadline passed, grades each charge against your statute, and writes the letter with your amounts and the citations already in place.
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