Updated December 02, 2022
A California security deposit demand letter is a letter sent by a tenant to a landlord when a lease has been terminated and the landlord has failed to return the security deposit in full to the tenant within twenty-one (21) days of the tenant vacating the premises. If there are any damages, unpaid rent, or other deductions to be made from the security deposit, the landlord must furnish an itemized statement of said deductions along with the remainder of the security deposit. The tenant may sue the landlord if they refuse to return the security deposit after seven (7) days from delivering the demand letter. The ‘bad faith claim’ further entitles the tenant to double the amount of the original security deposit plus any additional damages or court fees.
Laws – Civil Code 1950.5