Get Your Security Deposit Back
Generate a professional demand letter citing California Civil Code §1950.5 — basic version free.
5 minutes. No signup. Optional certified mailing for $35.
Free basic letter, or $9 for the full letter. No subscription. Optional certified mailing. Money-back guarantee on every paid option.
Your Landlord Owes You Money
26% of renters have lost their security deposit. Most didn't know they could fight back.
The Problem
- Problem: Landlords keep deposits without proper documentation
- Problem: They charge for "normal wear and tear" (illegal in CA)
- Problem: They miss the 21-day deadline to return your money
- Problem: You don't know your rights or how to enforce them
Our Solution
- Solution: Professional demand letter citing California law
- Solution: Sent via USPS Certified Mail (you get proof)
- Solution: Warns of 2x penalty for bad faith retention
- Solution: Full refund if your landlord doesn't respond
Free tools to get started
Quick answers to the most-Googled California deposit questions — citations included.
Deposit Deadline Checker
FreeFind your landlord's exact 21-day deadline under Civil Code §1950.5(h) — and what they're required to do by then.
Open tool →Demand Letter Assembler
Basic letter freeAssemble an attorney-reviewed demand letter from the reasons you select. Basic letter free, full letter $9; optional $35 certified mailing.
Open tool →How It Works
Fill Out the Form
Tell us about your rental, your landlord, and how much you're owed. Takes 5 minutes.
We Mail Your Letter
We generate a professional demand letter and send it via USPS Certified Mail.
Get Your Money
Most landlords pay within 2 weeks. If not, we refund you or help you escalate.
California Law Is On Your Side
California Civil Code §1950.5
- 21 Days: Landlords must return your deposit OR provide itemized deductions within 21 days. Miss the deadline? They forfeit the right to keep anything.
- Documentation: Deductions over $125 require receipts. New 2025 rules require before/after photos.
- 2x Penalty: Bad faith retention can result in you recovering up to TWICE your deposit amount.
- Normal Wear: Landlords cannot charge for normal wear and tear. That includes minor scuffs, nail holes, and faded paint.
Start With a Free Letter
Answer a few questions and your basic letter is free. Pay only if you want more.
Basic Letter
$0Your details filled in, the 21-day deadline, and a 15-day payment demand.
- ✓ Attorney-reviewed letter
- ✓ Cites CA Civil Code §1950.5
- ✓ Ready to print, sign, and mail
Full Letter
$9The basic letter plus a paragraph for each reason that applies to your case.
- ✓ Your reasons written out, citing the law
- ✓ PDF + a copy by email
- ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee
We Mail It Certified
$35The full letter, printed and sent USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
- ✓ Includes the full letter
- ✓ Delivery confirmation + tracking
- ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee
We're With You Every Step of the Way
Start with a demand letter. If that doesn't work, we have options to take it further.
Demand Letter
Basic letter free · $9 full letter · $35 mailedGenerate a professional demand letter citing California law in 5 minutes. Take the basic letter free or the full letter for $9 and mail it yourself, or have us send it via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt for $35. Most landlords respond and pay within 2 weeks.
Money-back guarantee on the $35 mailing if your landlord doesn't respond within 30 days.
DIY Small Claims Kit
Apply your $35 as a credit and get a pre-filled SC-100 court form, county-specific courthouse info, service of process instructions, and an interactive step-by-step checklist. File yourself — no lawyer needed in California small claims court.
Available for select California counties. Hearing is typically scheduled within 30–70 days of filing.
Know Your California Deposit Rights
Free, plain-English guides to the most common deposit disputes — what the law actually lets your landlord deduct, and what it doesn't.
How long does a landlord have to return a deposit? (21-day rule)
The deadline under Civil Code §1950.5 — and what happens when your landlord misses it.
Normal wear and tear vs. damage
Scuffs, nail holes, faded paint and worn carpet your landlord can't legally charge you for.
Can a landlord charge you for painting?
Why repainting is usually the landlord's cost in California — not a deposit deduction.
Carpet replacement deductions
How carpet proration works and when a full-replacement charge is illegal.
Cleaning fee deductions: what's legal
A landlord can charge to restore move-in condition — and no more.
Landlord won't return your deposit?
The step-by-step escalation path, from demand letter to small claims.
Ready to Get Your Money Back?
Don't let your landlord keep what's yours. Build your demand letter in 5 minutes.
Build My Demand Letter →Free basic letter, or $9 for the full letter. Optional certified mailing for $35.
Sample demand letter
The exact format you'll get — yours is filled in with your details and cites the §1950.5 violations in your case.
Sample data shown. Free to preview · no signup.
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