Before you start
Gather a few things first — then move fast
If you have this information handy before you begin, the guide can produce a proper demand letter in about 15 minutes.
None of this is hard to find, and you don't need all of it to start — your guide will work with whatever you have and help you track down anything that's missing. But the more of this you have ready up front, the faster everything goes. Spend ten minutes gathering before you sit down, and the rest is mostly answering simple questions.
Rather than a loose pile of notes, you can capture all of it on the free intake form — one place for every date, dollar amount, and disputed deduction on this list:
Security Deposit Intake Form
Free PDF · 4 pages · fill in by hand or type
Documents to have on hand
A PDF, a Word file, or clear photos of each page all work.
- Your leasePDF, Word document, or photos of every page. This is the single most useful thing — it shows your state, your deposit amount, your dates, and your landlord's details.
- The landlord's itemized deduction listThe written notice explaining what they kept and why — if they sent one. If they didn't, that's important too, and worth noting.
- Proof you paid the depositAny one of these works: a Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or other digital record; a bank or card statement; a canceled check; or a receipt. The landlord's own itemized list also counts as proof, since it admits they're holding your money.
- Your move-out photos or walkthrough, if you have themBefore-and-after pictures, a move-out report, or any written messages about the unit's condition. Helpful, but not required to begin.
Facts and dates to know
Just the details only you would know. Your guide looks up the law for you.
- The amount of your security depositWhat you actually paid. If a different amount was collected than the lease states, note both.
- Your move-out dateThe day your tenancy ended. This starts the legal clock, so try to be exact — check texts or emails if you're unsure.
- The date you first heard from the landlord about the depositWhen they sent the deductions, returned part of it, or otherwise responded — and whether any money came back, and how much.
- Your current mailing addressWhere the landlord can send payment or a response. This also appears on your demand letter.
- Your landlord's nameThe person or company on the lease — the one you'd name in a case.
- Your landlord's mailing address, if you know itUseful but not a blocker. If you don't have it, your guide will help you find it before you ever need to file.
- What the landlord charged you forThe specific items from the deduction list — cleaning, paint, carpet, repairs, unpaid rent, and the dollar amount next to each.
- Whether the landlord provided receipts or invoicesA simple yes or no. Did they back up any of the charges with actual bills or estimates?
Your side of the story
No need to write anything formal — just be ready to explain it in your own words.
- What actually happened with each chargeYour guide will ask for this early on. Think through it ahead of time and you'll move quickly.
A few examples of what's worth recalling: Did you clean well, or pay for a cleaning? Did the place already have old or worn carpet, or paint that was due to be redone anyway? Did you take photos before or after move-out? Were there repairs you'd asked for that the landlord ignored? You don't have to have every answer — just bring what you remember, and your guide will sort through it with you one piece at a time.
When you're ready
Not sure yet whether you have a case?
Start with the free case check. It asks a few simple questions and gives you an honest signal — before you gather anything or spend a dollar.
Start the Free Case Check See How the Guide Works
Free. Informational only. Not legal advice.