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How to Get Your Security Deposit Back
A landlord reviewing your unit compares it with how it looked when you arrived, so the work starts the day you get the keys.
One note up front: deposit limits, allowed deductions and return deadlines vary by state and sometimes by city. Check the rules where you live. This article is general information, not legal advice.
At move-in: record the condition
Take dated photos and video
Walk through every room before you unpack. Photograph walls, floors, carpets, windows, appliances inside and out, bathroom fixtures, and anything already scuffed, stained or broken. Make sure the files keep their dates, and back them up somewhere other than your phone.
Fill out a written checklist
Many landlords provide a move-in condition form. If yours doesn't, make one: list each room and note existing problems in plain words, like "small burn mark on kitchen counter, left of sink." Send a copy to your landlord and ask them to confirm they received it. An email is fine and gives you a dated record.
While you live there
Keep up with cleaning
Regular cleaning prevents the problems that are hard to fix later, like built-up grease, mildew in the shower, or stained carpet. It's far easier than a deep clean in your last week.
Report and repair
Tell your landlord in writing about maintenance issues, such as leaks, as soon as you notice them. Prompt reporting shows the damage wasn't caused by neglect. For damage you did cause, fix it properly or ask the landlord how they'd like it handled. Check your lease before painting, patching or changing anything.
Before you leave
Give notice the way your lease requires
Your lease probably states how much notice to give and how to deliver it. Follow it exactly, put it in writing, and keep a copy. Include your forwarding address so the landlord knows where to send the deposit and any itemized list of deductions.
Clean to move-in standard
Aim to return the place as you found it. Pay attention to spots that get overlooked: inside the oven and fridge, baseboards, window tracks and the bathroom exhaust fan. Normal wear and tear from everyday living is generally treated differently from damage, but what counts as each depends on local rules.
Take the final walkthrough if offered
If your landlord offers a walkthrough, go. Bring your move-in photos and checklist. Ask them to point out anything they plan to charge for, and fix small items on the spot if you can. Afterward, take your own dated photos of every room and return all keys, ideally with a written note of the date.
After you move out
Know the deadline
Most places set a deadline for the landlord to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Look up yours so you know when to expect it.
Follow up in writing
If the deadline passes with no deposit or explanation, send a short, polite letter or email. State your move-out date, forwarding address, the deposit amount, and ask for the refund or an itemized statement by a specific date. Keep a copy. If you still hear nothing, or you disagree with a deduction, local tenant organizations or legal aid offices can explain your options.
Splitting it with roommates
If you shared the place, decide in advance who receives the refund and how deductions are divided. The security deposit split calculator works out each person's share once the money arrives. For the roommate side, see moving out with roommates and how to split a security deposit.
Keep the move-in photos, the notice, the walkthrough photos and any letters together in one folder until the deposit is fully settled. If a question comes up months later, everything you need is in one place.