Sample letter · New York

A New York security deposit demand letter, when the landlord never sent anything

This is the full letter the Demand Letter Companion wrote for a fictional Brooklyn tenant. The landlord sent no refund and no itemized statement within New York’s 14 days, and only answered one text with “I’m checking the apartment.” Names and addresses are blurred, as they would be on a real letter.

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New York's deposit rules at a glance

The rules this letter is built on, checked against the statute on October 25, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Deadline: 14 days after the tenant moves out to return the deposit, or send an itemized statement of what was kept and why with the rest of it.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e)
Missing the deadline: A landlord who misses the 14 days forfeits any right to keep any part of the deposit.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e)
What can be deducted: Only reasonable, itemized costs for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and a few other items. Never ordinary wear and tear.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(b)
Burden of proof: The landlord has to prove the amount it kept was reasonable.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(f)
Penalty: If a judge finds a willful violation, punitive damages of up to twice the deposit, in addition to actual damages. Not automatic.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(g)
Deposit limit: No more than one month’s rent.N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(a)
Small claims: $10,000 in New York City; $5,000 in city courts outside NYC and in Nassau and Suffolk; $3,000 in town and village courts.NY Courts small-claims guidance

Sample Fictional case · names and addresses blurred

October 29, 2026

Daniel [redacted]
[redacted]
Brooklyn, NY 11237

Victor [redacted]
[redacted]
White Plains, NY 10605

Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [redacted], Brooklyn, NY 11237

Dear Mr. [redacted]:

I demand return of my full $2,400.00 security deposit.

I rented [redacted], Brooklyn, NY 11237, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and paid a $2,400.00 security deposit. I moved out and returned possession on June 30, 2026.

Under N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(e)¹, you were required to return my deposit or provide an itemized statement of deductions with any remaining balance by July 14, 2026². As of October 29, 2026, I have received neither any portion of my deposit nor an itemized statement, and the deadline is 107 days past. By missing that deadline, you forfeited any right to keep any part of my deposit³. My right to the full refund does not depend on whether any deduction would otherwise have been justified.

On July 20, 2026, I texted you asking about my deposit. You replied, “I’m checking the apartment, will let you know.”¹ I have received no further response.

Under N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(1-a)(g), I may recover the $2,400.00 withheld plus punitive damages of up to twice my deposit if a judge finds that you willfully violated the security-deposit rules. That would permit potential court recovery of up to $7,200.00: $2,400.00 in actual damages plus up to $4,800.00 in punitive damages. Punitive damages are not automatic¹; a judge must determine whether the violation was willful and what amount to award. The $7,200.00 is potential recovery in court, not my immediate settlement request.

To settle this matter now, I request payment of $2,400.00 by November 12, 2026¹. Please mail payment by check or money order to my address above.

I would prefer to resolve this matter without litigation. If I do not receive payment by November 12, 2026, I will file a complaint in small claims court without further notice.

Sincerely,

____________________________
Daniel [redacted]

What to notice

1
The exact law, citedNew York’s deposit statute and the subsection that sets the 14-day deadline.
2
The deadline math, done for youMove-out June 30, plus 14 days, is July 14. Nothing came by then, or since.
3
What the missed deadline meansIn New York, missing the 14 days costs the landlord the right to keep any of the deposit. So the letter asks for all $2,400, and the condition of the apartment doesn’t matter for that point.
4
The landlord’s own wordsThe one reply the tenant got is quoted with its date. It shows the landlord knew about the deposit and still sent nothing.
5
Honest about penaltiesUp to twice the deposit only if a judge finds the violation willful, and the letter says so plainly.
6
A clear amount and a dateThe full deposit, a two-week deadline, and what happens next if it passes.

Your letter will be different

The Companion builds each letter from your lease, your answers, and your state’s rules. So yours won’t look exactly like this one:

Not every landlord misses a deadline. If yours didn’t, the letter won’t claim it.
Penalties vary a lot by state. Some states have none, some double or triple the deposit, and some require bad faith. Your letter uses your state’s rule.
Your disputes come from your facts — what was there at move-in, what you did at move-out, and what you can show.

You read and approve every word before you print, sign, and mail it.

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More sample letters

CaliforniaStatement sent nine days late; $1,400 kept for carpet and painting.Read the letter →TexasDeduction list three weeks late; bad faith presumed; $1,350 kept.Read the letter →

All sample letters · Deposit laws by state

This sample shows what the Demand Letter Companion produces for one fictional situation. It is not legal advice, and it is not a template to copy for your own case. Laws and outcomes vary by state and by facts.