Situation Guide

What's Your Situation? Get a Step-by-Step Plan.

Find your exact scenario and get a personalized action plan to recover your deposit -- or collect penalties.

High Urgency

Just Moved Out and Landlord Hasn't Returned Your Deposit: What to Do

Act within 14 days of deadline

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High Urgency

Landlord Sent an Itemization with Fake or Inflated Charges: How to Fight Back

Dispute within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

Landlord Is Blaming You for Damage You Didn't Cause: What to Do

Respond in writing within 30 days

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High Urgency

Your Landlord Missed the Itemization Deadline: You May Be Entitled to Your Full Deposit

Act immediately after deadline passes

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High Urgency

Lease Ended, You Left on Time, and Landlord Kept Your Deposit: Your Rights

Act within 30 days of violation

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Medium Urgency

Roommate Left and Took the Deposit: What You Can Do

Before lease ends

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Medium Urgency

Landlord Sold the Building and New Owner Won't Return Your Deposit

Within statutory deadline of move-out

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High Urgency

Landlord Says There's Damage But You Left the Place Spotless: Fighting a False Claim

Act within 30 days of itemization

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Medium Urgency

Landlord Returned a Partial Deposit with No Itemization: Your Rights

Within 30 days of receiving partial return

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Sold the Building: Who Owes Me My Security Deposit?

Act within your state's statutory return deadline from move-out

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Medium Urgency

My Roommate Damaged the Apartment and the Landlord Took It from My Deposit

Respond within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

I Broke My Lease Early: Can My Landlord Keep My Security Deposit?

Act within 30 days of vacating

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High Urgency

Landlord Returned a Partial Deposit with No Explanation: What to Do

Act within 30 days of receiving partial return

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High Urgency

My Landlord Never Sent an Itemized Statement: What Are My Rights?

Act immediately after the statutory deadline passes

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High Urgency

My Landlord Sent the Itemized Statement Late: Does That Matter?

Act within 14 days of discovering the late delivery

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High Urgency

My Landlord Used My Security Deposit While I Was Still Living There

Address immediately upon discovery

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Low Urgency

My Landlord Never Gave Me a Receipt for My Security Deposit

Address at move-out or when a dispute arises

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High Urgency

My Landlord Claims I Abandoned the Unit and Kept My Deposit

Act immediately, especially if the claim is recent

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Medium Urgency

My Security Deposit Exceeded the Legal Maximum: What Can I Do?

Act during tenancy or at move-out

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Deducted for Normal Wear and Tear: That Is Illegal

Dispute within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Charged Me for Damage That Was There When I Moved In

Respond within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Charged Excessive Cleaning Fees After Move-Out

Dispute within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Is Charging Me for Full Carpet Replacement

Dispute within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Is Charging for Painting After I Lived There for Years

Dispute within 30 days of receiving itemization

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High Urgency

I Moved Out Because the Unit Was Uninhabitable: Can I Get My Deposit Back?

Act within 30 days of vacating

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High Urgency

My Landlord Is Not Responding to My Deposit Request

Act within your state's statutory deadline

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Medium Urgency

I Moved Out Before the Lease Ended: What Happens to My Security Deposit?

Act within 30 days of vacating

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Medium Urgency

My Subletter Damaged the Apartment and the Landlord Took It from My Deposit

Act within 30 days of receiving itemization

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Medium Urgency

A New Property Manager Took Over and Now Claims They Do Not Have My Deposit

Within your state's statutory return deadline from move-out

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High Urgency

My Landlord Deducted More Than My Entire Deposit: What Now?

Respond within 14 days of receiving the claim

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High Urgency

My Landlord Is Threatening to Sue Me After Move-Out: What to Do

Respond within 14 days of receiving any demand

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High Urgency

My Landlord Sent a Demand for More Money After I Moved Out

Respond in writing within 14 days

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High Urgency

My Deposit Was Returned Late with No Itemization: Double Violation

Act within 30 days of receiving the late return

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High Urgency

My Landlord Claims I Never Gave a Forwarding Address: Now What?

Address immediately to preserve your rights

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High Urgency

My Landlord Claims I Never Gave Proper Move-Out Notice: What to Do

Respond in writing within 14 days

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High Urgency

There Was Mold in My Unit and Now There Is a Deposit Dispute

Act immediately, especially if you recently vacated

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord and I Agreed to End the Lease Early: What About My Deposit?

Clarify deposit terms in writing before vacating

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High Urgency

My Landlord Is Holding My Deposit Because of a Rent Dispute

Respond within 14 days of receiving the claim

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Medium Urgency

I Received an Itemized Statement but the Charges Seem Wrong

Dispute within 30 days of receiving the itemization

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Medium Urgency

I Was on a Month-to-Month Lease: What Are My Deposit Rights?

Act within your state's statutory return deadline from move-out

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Medium Urgency

My Landlord Kept My Deposit for Pet Damage: Is It Legitimate?

Dispute within 30 days of receiving itemization

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High Urgency

I Was Evicted: Can I Still Get My Security Deposit Back?

Act within your state's statutory deadline from vacating

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High Urgency

Need Your Deposit Back Urgently: Fastest Legal Steps to Take

Start immediately

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Not sure which situation fits? Start here -- it takes 2 minutes.

Answer a few questions and GetItBack will identify your options, calculate what you may be owed, and generate a demand letter if needed.

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