Can Start Over Fresh tell me what my state requires?

No. We do not give legal advice and we do not interpret local housing rules. The opinion addresses whether the deductions look reasonable given the evidence. For your state deadline and penalties, check local law.

What if the landlord will not answer at all?

A default is entered after the response window, and the panel still reviews the complaint and evidence. A one sided record is weaker than a contested one, so include as much documentation as you have.

Does an advisory opinion help me get the money?

It is not enforceable, so nobody can collect on it for you. What it gives you is a neutral written finding you can send to the landlord, or bring with you if you later decide to file in small claims.

Is there a limit on the amount?

You set the amount in dispute when you file, and the remedy cannot exceed it. A Standard Case is meant for everyday amounts, and a very large deposit dispute may be better handled formally.

Common disputes

Renters and deposits

Getting a security deposit back without going to court

A security deposit is your money held by someone else, and getting it back often depends on a move out inspection you did not control, a landlord who stops answering, or a list of deductions that appears weeks later.

The rules here are unusually specific, and they vary a lot by where you live. Some places require the deposit back within a set number of days and add penalties when it is late. Others allow deductions for normal wear and tear but require an itemized list. Before you pick a route, it is worth knowing what your state and city actually require.

Rules vary by location

Deposit rules vary by state and by city. Some places set a deadline for returning a deposit, some require an itemized statement of deductions, and some add penalties for holding it too long. Check your local law, or a local tenant resource, before you act on anything on this page.

Your options

Four honest routes, including doing nothing.

Doing nothing

Sometimes a polite follow up after a few weeks is all it takes, and many deposits come back once a landlord is reminded in writing. Waiting quietly is the one approach that almost never works.

A demand letter

This is usually the best value for the minutes it takes. Ask for an itemized list of any deductions, mention the deadline if your state has one, and send it in a way you can prove. A lot of deposits are returned at this stage.

Small claims court

For a deposit held without a valid reason, small claims is a real option, and some states allow extra damages when a deadline is missed. It means a filing fee, a hearing, and time, but it can produce something enforceable.

Start Over Fresh

A Standard Case produces a written advisory opinion on whether the deductions look reasonable, in days rather than weeks. It is not a court, it does not interpret your local housing code, and it cannot garnish or seize anything. It fits when the disagreement is really about fairness and you want the answer in writing.

How Start Over Fresh works for this

The timing below is for a Standard Case.

1
Tell your side
You explain what happened in plain words, add whatever documents you have, and name the other person. A Standard Case takes about ten minutes to file, and there is no filing fee.
2
They respond
The other person gets an email link and has 2 business days to answer. No account is required. We send a reminder before the deadline, and if they never answer, a default is entered, though the panel still reads everything you filed.
3
Try mediation, then get a decision
A neutral AI mediator suggests up to three ways to settle, and each of you has 24 hours to accept one, ask for a single change, or skip. If nothing is accepted, three AI judges decide. A Standard Case is usually decided in about 3 to 5 calendar days from filing.

Hypothetical example, not a real case

A hypothetical example

A tenant paid a $1,500 deposit and received $400 back with no itemization. The landlord later claimed cleaning and paint. A panel might order the return of part of the withheld amount for lack of documentation, while accepting a modest cleaning charge that was supported by a receipt. That is an illustration, and your local law may give you stronger rights.

Questions people ask

Can Start Over Fresh tell me what my state requires?: No. We do not give legal advice and we do not interpret local housing rules. The opinion addresses whether the deductions look reasonable given the evidence. For your state deadline and penalties, check local law.
What if the landlord will not answer at all?: A default is entered after the response window, and the panel still reviews the complaint and evidence. A one sided record is weaker than a contested one, so include as much documentation as you have.
Does an advisory opinion help me get the money?: It is not enforceable, so nobody can collect on it for you. What it gives you is a neutral written finding you can send to the landlord, or bring with you if you later decide to file in small claims.
Is there a limit on the amount?: You set the amount in dispute when you file, and the remedy cannot exceed it. A Standard Case is meant for everyday amounts, and a very large deposit dispute may be better handled formally.

Start with your side of the story

About ten minutes to file, no filing fee, and the other person does not need an account.

Start a Standard Case

Related disputes

Other everyday disagreements and the same honest options.

Contractor did a bad job Client won't pay my invoice Neighbor's tree or fence damage

Start Over Fresh issues nonbinding advisory opinions. It is not a court and does not give legal advice.