Georgia's security deposit deadline is 30 days after the landlord obtains possession of the premises. For renters, the practical job is to prove when the landlord had the unit back and what the landlord sent after that.
That trigger matters. Georgia's statute uses a possession framework that can involve termination and vacation, surrender and acceptance, or the landlord discovering that the premises were surrendered by vacancy. Do not use the physical move-out date by itself.
What the landlord should send
If the landlord keeps any amount, the landlord should send a written statement identifying the exact reasons for the retention within the same 30-day period.
If the retention is based on damage, the statement should include the final damage list. The landlord should also send any refund balance due.
Georgia allows the landlord to comply by mailing the written statement and required payment to the tenant's last known address by first-class mail. Give a current mailing address in writing and keep proof so there is less room for delivery disputes.
What to track
- date the tenancy ended
- date you vacated
- date possession was returned or accepted
- current mailing address provided to the landlord
- any move-in inspection list
- any move-out damage list
- any written dissent to disputed damage-list items
- written itemization or refund
- ordinary wear and tear issues
What changes after the deadline passes
Once the correct deadline has passed, the dispute becomes more focused. The key questions are whether the landlord returned the deposit, mailed or sent a proper written statement, included a final damage list if damage was claimed, paid the refund balance, followed inspection-list procedures, charged for ordinary wear and tear, and is covered by the article.
That is why the next step should be written and organized. A good demand does more than ask for money; it ties the deadline, address proof, itemization, damage-list record, and amount owed into one clear paper trail.
Related Georgia guides
If the dispute is about claimed damage, these pages explain how the inspection record connects to the 30-day accounting rule:
- Georgia security deposit move-out inspection
- Georgia security deposit damage list
- Georgia security deposit written dissent
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Important: This page provides general information and is not legal advice.