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Open the companion tool →Why the return deadline matters as much as the deduction
Most places set a deadline and an itemisation requirement for deposit returns. A landlord who misses either may lose the right to deduct.
Dated photographs, a signed move-in checklist, and every written notice are what turn 'the deposit was unfair' into a documented claim a small-claims judge can decide.
The protocol
- Collect the lease, the move-in checklist, the move-out photos, and the deposit return letter.
- Note the date you vacated and the date the itemisation arrived.
- Check your local rules for the return deadline and the required itemisation.
- Write to the landlord disputing each deduction with your evidence, and send it in writing.
- If nothing resolves, file with small claims or your local housing office, keeping the whole packet.
What the tool does
Build a deposit return evidence record It runs locally in this browser and sends nothing.
Limit first: This is a documentation aid for a tenant or applicant, not legal advice. It cannot block an eviction, compel a repair, or guarantee a screening outcome.
Open the companion tool →Cost and free path
Cost: Free: one complete run in this browser, no account. Optional $4 one-time unlock allows unlimited runs of this tool on this browser. The free path and safety guidance never require payment.
Rule status (mixed route): Status, 2026-10-03: deposit return deadlines and itemisation requirements are set by state and local law; your local housing office, tenant services, or legal aid can state the deadline that applies to you.
Automated decision this documents: automated deposit deduction and inspection records
Free path, in order (no cost):
- Your local housing or tenant services office for the return-deadline rule
- Small claims court — designed for people without lawyers
- LawHelp.org for free legal aid on a deposit dispute
What this cannot do: It cannot block an eviction, compel a repair, or guarantee a screening outcome.
Sources checked 2026-10-03 · source bank reviewed against the live pages listed in metadata.
One human next step
Send a written dispute that cites the local deadline and itemisation rule before filing; many disputes settle at that stage, and free legal aid or a tenants' group can review the letter first.
Research log and safety checks
AI-assist path: not used for a verdict. This builder organises the reader's own documents and names an independent source; it does not infer authenticity, eligibility, or legal rights. §6.9/§6.10/§6.11 disclosed in the batch report; §6.12 status line carried in metadata as `status_line`.
§0.5 protection result: category is housing-and-rent-costs; crisis-adjacent: no; fear/urgency/scarcity toolkit used: no. The protective function is free and the paid feature is convenience only.