Your deposit is yours. Getting it back should not take a lawyer.

One payment. A demand letter with your state's statute quoted and the penalty in dollars, up to twice your deposit, mailed USPS Certified the next business day. For most landlords that is where it ends. If yours holds out, the letter is your evidence, and we walk you through small claims. If you still do not get paid, every dollar you paid us comes back.

Pick the state the rental is in.

$39, one time. Mailed certified, next business day. Refunded if you still do not get paid.Deposit law in 47 states. Current as of Nov 4, 2026.

Built by a college student who got sick of landlords, employers, and anyone with a little bit of power taking advantage of the rest of us.

1 of 7

Did you live there?

The deposit statute covers places people live. Commercial leases run on different rules.

Yes, I lived there No, it was a commercial lease

Pick one to continue.

2 of 7

When did you move out?

Roughly. The exact date comes later.

Less than 3 weeks ago 3 weeks to 3 months ago More than 3 months ago I have not moved out yet

Pick one to continue.

3 of 7

What have they sent you?

Since you moved out.

NothingNo itemized statement, no money. An itemized statement with deductionsWith or without a partial refund. Some money, but no itemized statement

Pick one to continue.

4 of 7

Did the statement come with receipts?

No documentation at all Some, but not for every charge Yes, for everything

Pick one to continue.

5 of 7

Do you owe back rent?

Unpaid rent is a deduction every state allows. Answer straight; the letter only works if every line is true.

No, I was paid up Yes, but less than the deposit Yes, more than the deposit

Pick one to continue.

6 of 7

What do you have?

Tick everything that is true. Each one is a point the letter makes.

Move-in photos, video, or a signed condition reportDated proof of the unit's condition before you moved in. Move-out photos or video of the cleaned unitPairs with move-in photos to show nothing changed. A text or email where the landlord said the unit looked fine or the deposit was comingTheir own words are hard to walk back in small claims. I gave a forwarding address in writingRemoves the landlord's one excuse for not sending the statement. Nobody told me in writing that I could request a pre-move-out inspectionThey are required to. The deductions are for normal wear, or for things that were already like that at move-inOrdinary wear and tear and pre-existing conditions cannot be charged.

7 of 7

How much are they holding?

Ballpark. It only shows you the math. Exact amounts come after checkout.

Your deposit (roughly) Amount still held (roughly)

This letter will not help here

Where you stand

Their deadline—

You can demand—

Statutory maximum in court—

Small claims limit—

$39 · mailed certified next business day · refunded if they do not pay

Checkout

Pick how hard to push.

Every option includes the letter with the statute quoted and your numbers, a PDF, an editable copy, and the small-claims steps. The letter gives them 10 days to pay, counted from the day it is mailed.

Sent and followed upMost complete

Mailed USPS Certified with an electronic return receipt, plus a first-class copy and an email copy
USPS tracking, then the signed receipt when it lands, both filed with your evidence
Reminder emails to the landlord on day 5 and day 9
A final notice mailed certified the day after your pay-by date passes
A second tracked mailing in your evidence file

$69one time Sent certifiedRecommended

Mailed USPS Certified with an electronic return receipt, plus a first-class copy and an email copy
USPS tracking, then the signed receipt when it lands
Evidence file and your small-claims form pre-filled from the letter

$39one time Letter onlyYou send it

The letter with the statute quoted and your numbers, as a PDF and an editable copy
Step by step: certified with return receipt, first-class, and email, about $9 at the post office
The small-claims steps if they ignore your deadline
Yours to keep, so the refund guarantee is on the mailed options only

$19one time

Email (for your receipt and the tracking number)

Secure checkout by Stripe. Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay.

If the landlord still does not pay after we mail it, ask and we refund every dollar you paid us. That is our fee, not the deposit, which nobody can promise.

After payment: the exact dates, amounts, and addresses. Two minutes. Progress is saved, so you can go find a date and come back.

Details · 1 of 4

Who is sending it

Exactly as it should read at the top of the letter. Every name on the lease.

Your full name (everyone on the lease) Street address (where the refund and any reply should go) Apt, unit, or suite (optional)

City State ZIP

Email Phone (optional)

Enter the email for your receipt and tracking number.

Name, street, city, state, and ZIP are needed on the letter and the envelope.

Details · 2 of 4

Who it goes to

The owner or manager named in the lease. If the lease lists no address, open the help below.

Landlord or property manager name Their street address Suite or unit (optional)

City State ZIP

Their email (optional, for the email copy)

I do not know their address

I am sending this to the manager or the rent-payment address because the lease lists no owner address

A name, street, city, state, and ZIP are needed; that is the envelope.

Details · 3 of 4

The rental and the money

The letter does its math from these. Check the lease and your bank app; everything saves as you type.

Rental address

County (for small claims) Date you moved out (returned the keys)

Security deposit you paid Monthly rent

Tenancy started (optional) Date the deposit was paid (optional)

I paid rent or the deposit electronically (portal, Zelle, ACH)

The rental address, the move-out date, and the deposit amount are needed.

Details · 4 of 4

What they sent, exactly

Dates and amounts, exactly as they arrived. Then how many days they get to pay.

Anything else the letter should state as fact (optional, one or two sentences)

Days you give them to pay Letter date

The date and amount of what you received are needed.

Your letter

Ready to send

Deadline—

Days late—

Demand—

Statutory maximum—demand + penalty

Click into the letter to edit wording. Highlights are quoted from the statute.

TenantTenant

Prepared and mailed via
Get My Deposit Back
File No. assigned at checkout

Mailing

How it goes out

Email the landlord with the PDF attached. Keep the sent message.
Certified Mail, electronic return receipt. Photograph the receipt and the tracking number. about $9: postage $0.78 + certified $5.30 + e-receipt $2.82
First-class copy in a second envelope. If the certified letter comes back unclaimed, this one still counts.

Your deposit is yours. Getting it back should not take a lawyer.

Did you live there?

When did you move out?

What have they sent you?

Did the statement come with receipts?

Do you owe back rent?

What do you have?

How much are they holding?

This letter will not help here

Pick how hard to push.

Who is sending it

Who it goes to

The rental and the money

What they sent, exactly

Ready to send

Mailing

How it goes out

If they ignore the deadline

Enclosures