Most states award 1×–3× damages when a landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit. We generate a state-specific demand letter in under 3 minutes — citing the exact statute, the deadline they blew, and the penalty they now owe you.
Preview free · $15 for full letter · $29 for recovery kit · No subscription
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Your generated letter (example shown for California)
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| Feature | Preview$0 | Demand Letter$15 | Recovery Kit$29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| State statute, deadline & penalty calculation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Letter preview on screen | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Downloadable PDF, formatted for print | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Certified mail instructions | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landlord response tracker + follow-up email | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Small claims filing checklist | — | — | ✓ |
| Evidence organizer & photo log | — | — | ✓ |
| State-specific court forms guide | — | — | ✓ |
| Escalation script for phone calls | — | — | ✓ |
Both tiers backed by our 60-day money-back guarantee. Reply to your receipt — that's the whole process.
What you actually get
Every deposit-recovery package delivers a state-specific demand letter citing the exact statute, an itemization demand, a small-claims template, and an Attorney-General complaint path. Here's a Washington demand letter.
Dear Ms. Morgan,
Pursuant to Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act at RCW 59.18.280, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit — or provide a written itemized statement of deductions — within 21 days of the tenant's move-out. I vacated the referenced unit on February 28, 2026. As of today, 53 days have elapsed and no deposit or itemized statement has been provided.
The specific remedy demanded, the forfeiture rule that applies, and the small-claims escalation are set out below…
Evidence checklist
Escalation path
Names, addresses, and unit numbers are illustrative. Your letter uses your actual case details and the specific statute, deadline, and penalty rule for your state.
Disputing a wrongfully withheld deposit is your right under every state's landlord-tenant statute. Most states also give you 2x or 3x the withheld amount as statutory damages if the landlord acted in bad faith. Our letter cites the specific statute and penalty multiplier for your state. That said, this tool is a self-help document generator — not legal advice about your specific situation. For claims over your state's small-claims limit or disputes involving discrimination or retaliation, consult a tenant-rights attorney.
Depends on your state — 14 to 60 days after move-out. Most states require return within 21–30 days. The tool calculates the exact deadline for your state automatically when you select it in step 1.
You can still dispute. Our demand letter explicitly rejects disputed deductions and requires the landlord to produce receipts, photos, or other proof of the damage claimed. Many itemized deductions fall apart under scrutiny — especially charges for "normal wear and tear," which landlords cannot legally deduct in any state.
Often your full deposit plus statutory penalties. In roughly 20 states, you can recover 2x or 3x the withheld amount as damages, plus court costs and sometimes attorney fees. A properly cited demand letter frequently prompts settlement before a lawsuit — the landlord doesn't want to risk the multiplier.
Stripe delivers the tier to the email on your receipt within minutes. The $15 Demand Letter is a personalized PDF cited to your state's statute. The $29 Recovery Kit adds the small-claims filing guide, state AG complaint template, evidence checklist, and a certified-mail tracking sheet. No account, no login, no subscription.
Yes — and most states' small-claims limits ($5,000 to $25,000) are far above a typical security deposit. Filing fees are $30–$75. Landlords frequently settle between filing and hearing date to avoid the court appearance. The Recovery Kit includes the filing checklist and evidence organizer.
Often, yes. A well-drafted letter citing the specific statute and penalty multiplier signals to the landlord that you know your rights and are prepared to sue. Many landlords pay within the stated deadline rather than risk 2x or 3x damages plus court costs. For the ones who don't, the Recovery Kit preps you for small claims.
No. Disputing a wrongfully withheld deposit is a statutory right, not a negative mark. Landlords cannot lawfully retaliate against tenants for exercising legal rights — most states have explicit anti-retaliation statutes. The only way this affects credit is if the landlord sent an unpaid balance to collections, which disputing actually helps you contest.
Free templates rarely cite your state's actual penalty statute or calculate the deadline correctly — so they read as generic and landlords ignore them. LegalZoom starts around $100 for a lawyer-review version. We're $15 flat, state-specific, with the exact RCW / Civ. Code / Prop. Code citation and multiplier that matches your state.
No. Every field you fill in stays on your device — the tool runs entirely in your browser. We never send your name, address, landlord details, or deposit amount to any server. Close the tab and it's gone.
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