My security deposit wasn't returned
Vermont tenant rights
The steps renters typically take when a landlord fails to return the security deposit within the state's statutory deadline, from documentation to small-claims court.
Step 1
Check the statutory return deadline
Most states require landlords to return deposits within 14–60 days of move-out, along with an itemized list of any deductions. Find your state's specific deadline on your state attorney general's site or HUD's tenant rights page (linked below). Mark the deadline on your calendar.
Step 2
Send a demand letter
If the deadline has passed, send a written demand letter (certified mail, return receipt requested) stating the amount owed, the statutory deadline, and a deadline for the landlord to pay before you file in small claims. Keep a copy. This letter is almost always required before you can sue, and it resolves many disputes on its own.
Step 3
File in small claims court
Small claims is designed for these disputes: filing fees are low, lawyers are often not required, and judges are familiar with security-deposit law. Bring your lease, move-in/move-out photos or videos, the itemized deduction list (if any), the demand letter, and the certified-mail receipt. Many states award double or triple the deposit plus attorney's fees when landlords withhold deposits in bad faith.
Step 4
Document move-in and move-out for the next time
Going forward: photograph every room on move-in and move-out. Note pre-existing damage in writing, signed by both parties. Get your forwarding address to your landlord in writing. These steps eliminate most deposit disputes before they start.
Know the landlord you're renting from
Search Vett for lease-verified reviews and public records on landlords in Vermont before you sign anything.
Search landlords