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Landlord Won't Fix landlord keeping entire security deposit — Options?

Started by need_help_buyer_today · May 11, 2025 · 1,423 views · 20 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
NH
need_help_buyer_today OP

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.

landlord keeping entire security deposit. I've been dealing with this for about 9 months now and the situation isn't improving.

I have been in this property for 7 years. My monthly rent is $2,147. I have a written lease.

What are the risks if I pursue this? What's the likely timeline?

JC
just_curious_employee_WA

NAL, but from what I've read, you should file a complaint. That said, definitely get a lawyer to look at the specifics.

FF
frustrated_freelancer_question

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

RJ
RE_Attorney_James Attorney

I specialize in this area of law. Here's my take on the legal issues.

The key question is whether the applicable statute of limitations has run. Depending on your jurisdiction, you typically have state landlord-tenant code years for this type of claim.

Before taking legal action, consider sending a formal demand letter. In many cases, this alone resolves the issue.

AT
anon_tenant_NC

This happened to me too. Have you tried filing a complaint with the relevant agency? In my case they investigated and it got resolved without needing a lawyer.

TD
throwaway_dev_TX

Have you tried reaching out to your state's bar association? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

RL
RetiredLawyer_FL

I went through almost the exact same thing.

What worked for me was escalating to a supervisor/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

GL
GigWorker_LA

I went through almost the exact same thing.

In my case, it took about 4-8 months to resolve. The key was filing with the appropriate government agency.

AB
AgentBroker_TX

Been there. Here's what I learned.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is hiring an attorney to send the initial letter. I'd recommend being patient with the process instead.

NR
NurseUnion_Rep

I've dealt with this before.

I ended up hiring an attorney to send the initial letter, which cost about $2-4 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

SA
seeking_advice_tenant_OH

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

AS
anon_student_2025

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

NL
NursePractitioner_LA

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

I ended up hiring an attorney to send the initial letter, which cost about $2-4 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

FT
first_time_creator_legal

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.

TR
TruckerRights_OH

I've dealt with this before.

What worked for me was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter. It took 2-4 months but was worth it.

TP
throwaway_parent_advice

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.

WB
worried_business_owner_2022

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.

TF
TechStartup_Founder

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

I ended up filing with the appropriate government agency, which cost about $4-8 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

DN
DataPrivacy_Nerd

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

In my case, it took about 2-4 months to resolve. The key was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter.

FT
first_time_employee_WA

Have you tried reaching out to your state's consumer protection office? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

PN
Photographer_NYC

I went through almost the exact same thing.

What worked for me was escalating to a supervisor/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

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