FYI: landlord keeping entire security deposit

I publish illustrative scenarios prepared by my practice. The participants and conversations are fictional. These are not posts by real users, accounts of client experiences or reports of actual results.
Started by nursing_life_34 · Oct 30, 2025 · 1,287 views · 11 replies
For informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
NL
nursing_life_34 OP

I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.

landlord keeping entire security deposit. I've been dealing with this for about 14 weeks now and the situation isn't improving.

I have been in this property for 3 years. My monthly rent is $1,398. I have a written lease.

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

WT
witness_the_fitness_30

Look, i work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle fwiw.

ES
Emily_S_10

So basically 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.

LB
legally_bland_10

I went through almost the exact same thing.

In my case, it took about 3-6 months to resolve. The key was having everything documented.

DA
daveP_22

This happened to my coworker too.

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

DA
daveP_22

My buddy went through something identical.

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

JE
jenny_2024_15

I went through almost the exact same thing.

Most folks screw this up by is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead....

IA
ian_99_24

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.

WD
what_do_i_do_now_21

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.

AR
ambulance_runner_18

Not gonna lie, I put off calling an attorney for weeks. Wish I hadn't waited.

AJ
andrew.j_26

Following this thread — bump -- also need to know this

TWS
help_im_lost_14

Unpopular opinion: sometimes it's not worth litigating, even if you're in the right. If the disputed amount is $500 and attorney fees would be $3,000, consider whether the principle is worth the cost. Write-off the loss and learn from it.