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What evidence do I need to get my security deposit back?

Updated July 1, 2026United States

Short answer

The strongest evidence is a dated before-and-after record of the unit's condition: thorough move-in photos or video, matching move-out photos or video, your lease and any move-in inspection checklist, your receipt for the deposit, written notice of your forwarding address, and copies of all communication. Deposit rules — how long the landlord has to return it, what can be deducted, and whether they must itemize — vary by state and sometimes city, so check your state's security-deposit law for the specifics.

Getting a deposit back is usually won or lost on one thing: whether you can show the place was in the same condition, minus normal wear, when you left as when you arrived.

Step by step

  1. Capture move-in condition thoroughly (or reconstruct it)

    Dated photos or video of every room and any existing damage are the foundation. If you did a move-in inspection checklist with the landlord, keep it. Already moved in? Gather whatever you have — early messages, older photos — to establish the starting condition.

  2. Document move-out the same way

    Once your belongings are out and you've cleaned, photograph and video every room again, dated, from the same angles as move-in. Aim to leave it as clean as you found it, and record that you did.

  3. Keep the receipts for the deposit — and for your rent

    A receipt, bank record, or the lease clause showing the deposit amount matters, because you can't argue over the return of something there's no record you paid. Keep rent-payment records too.

  4. Give your forwarding address in writing

    In many states a landlord must send the deposit — or a written itemization of deductions — to the address you provide. Put your forwarding address in writing and keep a copy, so there's no dispute about whether they had it.

  5. Save all communication and any itemized deductions

    Keep every message about the deposit. If the landlord sends an itemized list of deductions, hold onto it — it's the thing your evidence will be measured against.

  6. Compare deductions against your evidence

    Normal "wear and tear" generally can't be charged to you; damage beyond that can be. The exact line varies, but your dated before-and-after record is what lets you push back on a deduction that's really just ordinary aging.

  7. If it's withheld unfairly, check your options

    Look up your state's security-deposit law for the return deadline and what happens if the landlord misses it — some states add penalties for wrongful withholding. Small claims court and a tenant-rights organization are common next steps; confirm what applies where you live.

Plain-English terms

Security deposit
Money you pay up front that the landlord can use for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear, and must otherwise return. The rules for returning it are set by your state.
Normal wear and tear vs damage
Wear and tear is the ordinary aging of a unit from normal living (faded paint, minor scuffs) and generally can't be deducted; damage is beyond that. Where the line sits varies.
Itemized deductions
A written breakdown of what the landlord kept from your deposit and why. Many states require one, and it's what you compare your evidence against.
Move-in / move-out inspection
A documented walkthrough recording the unit's condition at the start and end of the tenancy. The before-and-after comparison is the core of most deposit disputes.
Forwarding address
The address where the landlord sends your deposit or itemization after you leave. Providing it in writing — and keeping a dated copy — matters in many states.
Small claims court
A simplified, lower-cost court for smaller money disputes, commonly used to recover a wrongfully withheld deposit. Limits and procedures vary by state.

The tool for this

buildmyevidence

This guide tells you what to do. buildmyevidence does it with you — keep your move-in and move-out evidence side by side, with receipts and messages, so a deposit claim is easy to make and hard to dispute. Every entry is dated for you.

  • Move-in and move-out photos, dated and organized in one place
  • Deposit receipt, lease and every message kept together
  • Export a complete, organized record for the landlord or small claims
See buildmyevidence

Related questions

This is general information to help you keep your own records — not legal advice. Security-deposit rules vary by state and sometimes city — check your state's security-deposit law, and consider a tenant-rights organization or small claims for your situation.