Forwarding Address

Full Definition

A forwarding address is the new residential or mailing address a tenant gives their landlord after moving out. In many states, the landlord's statutory deadline to return the deposit and any itemized statement does not begin running until the tenant provides a forwarding address. In Arizona, for instance, the landlord has 14 days from when the tenant provides a forwarding address -- not simply from the end of the lease -- to return the deposit. If a tenant never provides a forwarding address and the landlord cannot locate them, the landlord's obligation to return the deposit may be deferred, though the funds may eventually need to be turned over to the state as unclaimed property. Tenants should always provide a forwarding address in writing (ideally by certified mail or in the lease termination notice) to start the clock running on the landlord's obligations and to create a clear paper trail.