Security deposit return deadlines: where to find your local rule

What deposit return rules usually cover

Most US states, Canadian provinces and Australian states have a rule about what happens to a security deposit or bond at the end of a tenancy. The details differ a lot, so there is no single national answer. The rules usually cover some or all of these points:

• A deadline. The number of days the landlord has to return the deposit, or to tell you what they plan to keep. The clock may start at move-out, at the end of the lease, or when you give a forwarding address.

• An itemized list. A written statement of each deduction and the reason for it. Some places also require receipts or invoices.

• What can be deducted. Usually unpaid rent, cleaning to the move-in standard, and damage beyond normal or fair wear and tear. Our guide to normal wear and tear vs damage explains the difference.

• Interest. Some places require interest on deposits, sometimes paid yearly or at move-out. Others do not.

• Who holds the money. In much of Australia, and in some Canadian provinces, a government body holds the bond, not the landlord. That changes how you claim it.

• What happens if the landlord misses the deadline. In some places the landlord loses the right to keep any part of the deposit, or may owe a penalty.

• Where disputes go. Small claims court, a tenancy board, a bond authority or a tribunal.

Rules change. Legislatures amend these laws, and cities can add their own rules. Treat the examples below as a starting point and confirm on the official page before you act.

Four US examples from official sources

Each figure below comes from the official statute or state court page as of October 10, 2026. Some rules include exceptions not covered here.

California

The California Courts self-help guide says that after a tenant moves out, the landlord has 21 days to either return the whole deposit or return the rest with an itemized statement listing what was deducted and why. If deductions total more than $125, the landlord must attach copies of invoices or receipts. If the landlord did the work, they must describe the work, the time spent and the hourly rate. Cleaning can be deducted only to return the unit to its move-in condition. The guide notes local rules may add protections. California Courts guide to security deposits (opens another site).

New York

New York General Obligations Law section 7-108 (subdivision 1-a) says that within 14 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must give an itemized statement of anything kept and return the rest. A landlord who misses that deadline loses the right to keep any part of the deposit. The same section generally caps deposits at one month's rent, bars deductions for ordinary wear and tear, and gives tenants the right to ask for an inspection before move-in and before move-out. The subdivision has stated exceptions, including units under certain rent control laws. New York General Obligations Law 7-108 (opens another site).

Florida

Florida Statutes section 83.49 says that if the landlord does not plan to claim against the deposit, it must be returned, with interest if required, within 15 days after the rental agreement ends. If the landlord plans to make a claim, they must send written notice within 30 days, by certified mail to your last known mailing address or by email as the statute allows, stating the amount and the reason. You then have 15 days after receiving that notice to object in writing. A landlord who does not send the notice in time loses the right to claim against the deposit, though they can still bring a separate claim for damages. Florida Statutes 83.49 (opens another site).

Other states

Deadlines, notice rules and penalties differ across the other states. Search for your state's official statute (usually on the state legislature's website) or your state's court self-help or consumer protection pages. Check the date: an article from a few years ago may describe a rule that has since changed.

Canada (outside Quebec)

Each province has its own residential tenancy law and office. Use the official page for your province:

• British Columbia: Residential Tenancy Branch, moving out (opens another site). Once the landlord has your forwarding address in writing, they have 15 days to return the deposit or apply for dispute resolution, or risk being ordered to pay double.

• Alberta: Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (opens another site).

• Saskatchewan: Office of Residential Tenancies (opens another site), with resources on claiming and contesting deposits.

• Manitoba: Residential Tenancies Branch (opens another site), including deposit interest information.

• Ontario: Landlord and Tenant Board (opens another site). Ontario's rules on what deposits a landlord may collect differ from many other provinces, so check before assuming a damage deposit applies.

• Nova Scotia: Residential Tenancies (opens another site), with forms for security deposit claims.

• Newfoundland and Labrador: Landlord and Tenant, Government Services (opens another site).

• New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island: each has its own provincial tenancy office. Search your provincial government's website for residential tenancies.

Australia

In most Australian states, the bond is lodged with a government authority, and you claim it from that body rather than from the landlord. Start with your state's official page:

• New South Wales: NSW Government, bond disputes for tenants (opens another site). Disputes go to NCAT (opens another site).

• Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria, bond claims and refunds (opens another site), covering the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. Disputes can go to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and VCAT (opens another site).

• Queensland: Residential Tenancies Authority, bond refunds (opens another site). Disputes go through the RTA and can go to QCAT (opens another site).

• Western Australia: Consumer Protection WA, bonds (opens another site).

• South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory: each has its own bond arrangements. Use your state or territory government's renting pages. In the Northern Territory, tenancy disputes can go to NTCAT (opens another site).

How to use the official page

1. Find the rule that matches your type of housing. Some laws exclude certain units.

2. Note when the clock starts: move-out, lease end, or forwarding address.

3. Give your forwarding address in writing and keep a copy.

4. Write down the date the deadline falls.

5. If the deadline passes, or the itemized list does not match your move-in report, reply in writing and look at the official dispute route. Our guide on how to dispute a security deposit deduction walks through it.

A local tenant service can explain how the rules apply to your situation.

When the itemized list arrives

EasyToDecode is launching soon. It will read the landlord's itemized list next to your move-in and move-out reports, quote the lines that matter, flag deductions without receipts or a matching entry, and prepare questions to send. See how it works or join the waitlist to hear when it opens.