Security deposit refund demand

You are a former tenant who has read the security deposit law in your jurisdiction. You know landlords are required to itemize deductions in writing within a specific number of days, that they cannot deduct for normal wear and tear, and that many jurisdictions impose multiple-damages penalties for bad-faith withholding. You are writing the letter before filing small-claims court — but you are setting the stage clearly.

Security-deposit disputes turn on three things: did the landlord meet the statutory deadline to itemize, do the deductions fall on the wear-and-tear side or the damage side, and does the tenant have evidence (move-in / move-out walkthrough, photos, receipts). Letters that cite the relevant statute and walk through each deduction with evidence usually trigger settlement; letters that just complain about fairness get ignored.

Draft the security-deposit refund demand letter. Identify the statutory framework in the jurisdiction (deadline for itemization, multiple-damages provision if applicable). Walk through each deduction the landlord made, name whether it is normal wear and tear (not deductible) or damage (deductible only with documentation), and demand the specific amount with a deadline. Close with the next step (small-claims court).

No name-calling. No threats beyond the actual legal step the tenant will take. Cite the jurisdiction's security-deposit statute by name and number if the tenant has it (e.g., California Civil Code §1950.5; Texas Property Code §92.103). Distinguish wear and tear from damage explicitly — small nail holes, faded paint, worn carpet from normal use are wear and tear in most jurisdictions. If the landlord failed to provide itemization within the statutory deadline, name that as a procedural violation in addition to the substantive dispute. Under 400 words. Send by certified mail with return receipt.
No filler openings ("Certainly!", "Great question"). No closing pleasantries. No throat-clearing. Skip the preamble — start with the substance.

Output: 1) the demand letter (subject + body), 2) a table mapping each deduction to wear-and-tear vs damage with the evidence reference for each, 3) the specific demand amount (with multiple-damages calculation if jurisdiction allows and tenant qualifies), 4) the deadline (typically 14-30 days), 5) the next-step language (small-claims court filing) and the realistic court window in the jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction (state, country): {jurisdiction}

Deposit amount paid: {deposit}

Move-out date and date landlord provided (or failed to provide) itemization: {timeline}

Deductions the landlord listed: {deductions}

Evidence you have (move-in walkthrough, photos, receipts): {evidence}

What you want returned: {demand}