Most tenants lose their deposit for one reason: they email the landlord, get ignored, and never send anything that creates a legal record. Deposit statutes give you hard deadlines and real penalties — often 2x to 3x the amount withheld — but only if you invoke them correctly and in writing.
This kit is the paperwork, done. Fill in the brackets, send it certified mail, keep the receipt.
What's inside
- 5 editable demand letters — California, Texas, New York, Florida, plus a universal template for every other state. Each cites the controlling statute by section number.
- Statute cheat sheet — deadline, penalty, and the exact code cite for each state, so you know what you're actually owed before you send anything.
- Florida 15-day objection letter — the step most Florida tenants miss. Miss it and the landlord keeps the money by default.
- Evidence checklist — what to photograph, what to keep, and what wins when it's your word against theirs.
- Small-claims filing checklist — filing fees, service, what to bring, how to prove damages.
- 20-page PDF guide — how the escalation actually works, start to finish.
The deadlines you're working against
| State | Landlord's deadline | Penalty for missing it |
|---|---|---|
| California | 21 days | Up to 2x deposit (bad faith) — Civ. Code §1950.5 |
| Texas | 30 days | $100 + 3x withheld + fees — Prop. Code §92.109 |
| New York | 14 days | Forfeits deposit claim; up to 2x if willful — GOL §7-108 |
| Florida | 15 / 30 days | Forfeits claim; fee-shifting — Fla. Stat. §83.49 |
In Texas, bad faith is presumed once the landlord blows the 30-day deadline. That presumption is the single most valuable sentence in your letter — and it's in the template.
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Try the free tool first. Our free demand letter generator writes a basic letter in your browser at no cost. The kit is for what comes next: the objection letter, the evidence file, and small claims.
Who this is for
- Your landlord kept some or all of your deposit and won't explain the deductions.
- The statutory deadline has passed and you've heard nothing.
- You got an itemized claim you think is inflated and need to object in writing.
- You're preparing to file in small claims and want your paper trail clean.