Landlord withheld $3K deposit for 60 days - can I sue for 2X + interest?

Moved out of my SF apartment on May 15 (60 days ago). Landlord owes me $3,000 security deposit. Still haven't received anything - no deposit, no itemized statement, nothing.

I've called 4 times and emailed twice. He either doesn't answer or says "I'll send it next week." It's been 60 days now, way past the 21-day legal deadline.

Questions:

• Can I sue for 2X the deposit ($6,000) for bad faith?
• How do I calculate the interest? I heard it's 10% annually?
• Should I send a demand letter first or just file?

I left the place spotless and have photos to prove it. This is clearly bad faith.

Berkeley residents: Don't forget about the Rent Board! They have a specific security deposit dispute process and their hearing examiners have seen every landlord trick in the book.

I went through their process last month. Landlord tried to charge me $600 for "holes in walls" (tiny nail holes from hanging pictures - normal wear). Hearing examiner shut that down immediately and ordered full deposit returned plus 4 years of unpaid interest.

It's free to file with the Rent Board vs. ~$80 for small claims.

What counts as "normal wear and tear" vs. damage? My landlord is trying to charge me for:

• Scuff marks on hardwood floors
• Faded curtains
• Minor scratches on countertops
• Worn carpet in high-traffic areas

I lived there 5 years. Seems like all of this is normal wear?

@legally_bland_5 Yes, this is a violation. Civil Code 1950.5(g)(1) requires that the landlord must "return any remaining portion of the security" within 21 days, not just send a statement.

The law is clear: both the itemized statement AND the remaining deposit must be provided within the 21-day window. Sending only the statement doesn't satisfy the requirement.

Send a demand letter immediately citing this violation. You're now entitled to bad faith penalties for the portion they haven't returned. Use the demand letter template and customize it for your situation.

FINAL UPDATE - RESOLVED: Closing this thread with the complete outcome for future reference.

Final recovery breakdown:

Huge thanks to @clause_for_alarm_14, @ImmigrationAttyMJ_3, and everyone else who contributed. This thread taught me my rights and helped me recover over $7,500 from a landlord who thought he could just ignore the law. Don't let them get away with it!