In most states, the clock for your landlord to return your security deposit starts when you vacate the unit. But in a notable group of states, the deadline doesn't begin until the landlord receives your new forwarding address. This distinction can be the difference between a landlord being legally in violation on day 31 — or being perfectly within their rights because you never provided an address.
Which States Require a Forwarding Address
Texas is the clearest example: under Texas Property Code §92.107, a landlord is not required to return the deposit until the tenant provides a forwarding address in writing, and the 30-day return deadline begins only after that address is received. Washington RCW 59.18.280 similarly ties the 21-day return clock to receipt of the forwarding address. Other states with similar provisions or where it practically affects the deadline include Arizona, New Mexico, and several others.
In Texas, if you never provide a written forwarding address, your landlord technically never has an obligation to return your deposit at all — and you cannot sue them for withholding. Always provide your forwarding address in writing before you move out.
How to Provide Your Forwarding Address Properly
- Provide it in writing — verbal address changes may not be legally sufficient
- Send via certified mail to create a date-stamped delivery record
- Email is also useful because it creates a timestamped record — include your full mailing address in the email body
- If you hand-deliver a note, follow up with an email confirming: 'This is to confirm the forwarding address I provided on [date]: [address]'
- Provide the address before you move out, ideally at the same time you give notice
What Happens If the Landlord Claims They Never Got It
This is exactly why certified mail and email records matter. If you sent your address via certified mail, you have a receipt proving delivery. If you sent it via email, the sent folder and read receipts provide documentation. A landlord who claims never to have received a forwarding address — when you have certified mail proof of delivery — has a very weak position in court.
States That Do NOT Require a Forwarding Address
In most states — including California, New York, Florida, Illinois, and the majority of others — the deposit return deadline begins when you vacate, regardless of whether you've provided a new address. In these states, the landlord is expected to make reasonable efforts to reach you using the contact information they have. However, even in these states, providing your address proactively is good practice: it removes any excuse for delay and documents that you were reachable.
The Practical Takeaway
When you move out of any rental, make providing your forwarding address in writing part of your standard move-out process — right alongside returning keys and completing a move-out walkthrough. Take 30 seconds to send a dated email to your landlord with your new address. In states where it's legally required, this single act determines whether you have any legal claim at all. In states where it isn't required, it eliminates one more excuse for delay.