Free tool · Updated October 30, 2026
Is your landlord late with your deposit?
Enter where you rented, when you moved out and what you paid. You'll see the exact date the law gave your landlord, and the most a court could award you if they broke the rules.
- California
- 21 days after move-out
- Texas
- 30 days, from your written forwarding address
- Florida
- 15 days to return, 30 to claim by certified mail
- New York
- 14 days, or the landlord forfeits it
- Illinois
- 30 days to itemize with receipts, 45 to return
Enter your dates and amounts to see your landlord's legal deadline and what the law lets you recover.
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How the deadline is counted
Deposit deadlines run in calendar days from the day you moved out and returned possession, not business days. Each state differs in what the landlord owes by then:
- California: the refund or an itemized statement, with receipts once repairs and cleaning top $125.
- Texas: the refund or a written, itemized list, counted from your written forwarding address.
- Florida: the refund within 15 days, or a certified-mail notice of any claim within 30.
- New York: an itemized statement and the rest of the deposit within 14 days, or the landlord forfeits it.
- Illinois: an itemized statement with paid receipts within 30 days to deduct damage, otherwise the full deposit within 45.
Questions
How does the calculator work?
It adds your state's deadline to your move-out date and applies the penalty formula from your state's statute, using the same law table our letters use. No account needed, and we don't ask for your name or address.
Why does Texas say the date may move later?
In Texas the 30 days start once the landlord has your forwarding address in writing. If you gave it after you moved out, the deadline is 30 days from that date (Prop. Code § 92.107).
Is the maximum what I'll actually get?
Not necessarily. It's the most the statute allows a court to award, and penalties usually depend on a finding such as bad faith. Florida has no penalty multiplier at all. Use it to know your leverage, not as a prediction.
My state isn't listed. What can I do?
We cover California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois for now. Every state has a deadline, usually between 14 and 45 days; your state's statutes or a local legal aid site will have it.
Sources
- California Civil Code § 1950.5
- Texas Property Code ch. 92, subch. C
- Florida Statutes § 83.49
- New York General Obligations Law § 7-108
- Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710/1
General information about the law, not legal advice. Laws change and courts decide cases on their facts; for advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state. Instant Legal Letters is a self-help writing tool, not a law firm.