Security Deposit Return Receipt Template

Landlords collect security deposits when a new tenant moves into a rental unit. They use security deposits to pay the expenses from property damage, missing amenities, and back rent when the tenant eventually moves out of the unit. This receipt can break down those costs as deposit deductions. 

Security Deposit Return Rules

When a tenant ends a lease with rent paid in full, all amenities intact, and no damage to the property, the landlord must return the entire security deposit. If a tenant causes damage to property or amenities, they can handle repairs on their own before ending their lease. The tenant controls what contractors conduct the repairs and, therefore, what budget will be spent on said repairs. They should keep all repair receipts for proof of costs.  It’s wise for a tenant to attend their move-out inspection and even take their own photographic evidence of the state of the rental unit before the inspection. This way, they can dispute their landlord’s claims of damage or missing items if the landlord decides to withhold any or all of their security deposit wrongfully.

Getting Back a Security Deposit

Some ways to avoid losing money on a security deposit are:

• Attending the move-out inspection;
• Handing necessary cleaning, maintenance, and repairs before moving out;
• Leaving no belongings behind in the unit;
• Returning the keys in person at the move-out inspection; and
• Taking quality care of a rental unit for the duration of a lease.

Interest on Security Deposits

Sometimes a security deposit account accumulates interest. This receipt is an excellent place to reflect accumulated interest over the life of the account. Some states require landlords to pay accrued interest annually for multi-year leases.

Table: When to Return a Security Deposit

State	Days	Statute
Alabama	60 days	35-9A-201(b)
Alaska	4 days (tenant leaves on-time); 30 days (tenant leaves late)	§ 34.03.070(g)
Arizona	14 days	§ 33-1321(D)
Arkansas	60 days	§ 18-16-305
California	21 days	§ 1950.5(g)(1)
Colorado	30 days is standard; 2 months can be negotiated in a lease agreement	§ 38-12-103
Connecticut	Immediately upon lease termination for disabled and senior citizens	§ 47a-22a
Delaware	20 days	§ 5514(e)
Florida	30 days (with deductions); 15 days (without deductions)	§ 83.49(3)(a)
Georgia	1 month	§ 44-7-34
Hawaii	14 days	§ 521-44(c)
Idaho	30 days (if stated in lease); 21 days (if not stated in lease)	§ 6-321
Illinois	30 days (with deductions); 45 days (without deductions)	765 ILCS 710/1(a)
Indiana	45 days	§ 32-31-3-12
Iowa	30 days	§ 562A.12(3)(a)
Kansas	30 days	§ 58-2550(b)
Kentucky	60 days	§ 383.580(7)
Louisiana	1 month	Revised Statute 9:3251
Maine	30 days (fixed-period leases); 21 days (tenancies-at-will)	§ 6033
Maryland	45 days	§ 8-203(e)(1)
Massachusetts	30 days	§ 15B(4)
Michigan	30 days	§ 554.609
Minnesota	3 weeks	§ 504B.178
Mississippi	45 days	§ 89-8-21
Missouri	30 days	§ 535.300(3)
Montana	30 days (with deductions); 10 days (without deductions)	§ 70-25-202
Nebraska	14 days	§ 76-1416(2)
Nevada	30 days	NRS 118A.242(4)
New Hampshire	30 days	§ 540-A:7(I)
New Jersey	30 days	§ 46:8-21.1
New Mexico	30 days	§ 47-8-18(D)
New York	14 days	§ 7-108 (e)
North Carolina	60 days (with deductions); 30 days (without deductions)	§ 42-52
North Dakota	30 days	§ 47-16-07.1(3)
Ohio	30 days	§ 5321.16(B)
Oklahoma	45 days	§ 41-115(B)
Oregon	31 days	§ 90.300(12)
Pennsylvania	30 days	§ 250.512
Rhode Island	20 days	§ 34-18-19(b)
South Carolina	30 days	§ 27-40-410(a)
South Dakota	45 days (with deductions); 14 days (without deductions)	§ 43-32-24
Tennessee	30 days	§ 66-28-301(a)
Texas	30 days	§ 92.103
Utah	30 days	§ 57-17-3(2)
Vermont	60 days (seasonal properties); 14 days (all other leases)	§ 4461
Virginia	45 days	§ 55.1-1226(A)
Washington	21 days	§ 59.18.280
Washington, D.C.	45 days	14 § 309
West Virginia	Immediately	§ 37-6A-2
Wisconsin	21 days	§ 134.06(2)
Wyoming	Whichever is lesser: 30 days from lease termination or 15 days from receiving the tenant’s new forwarding address	§ 1-21-1208(A)