Make the demand part of the record
An Indiana security deposit demand letter should state the rental address, lease-end date, move-out and possession-return facts, deposit amount, written mailing address, what the landlord has or has not sent, and the amount you are requesting.
The letter should not ignore Indiana's trigger. The ordinary 45-day rule depends on termination of the rental agreement, delivery of possession, and the tenant supplying the landlord a mailing address in writing, so the demand should make those facts easy to follow.
What to include
- Your name and current mailing address.
- Rental address.
- Date the rental agreement ended.
- Date you moved out and returned keys or access devices.
- Date and method you gave the mailing address in writing.
- Deposit amount.
- What is missing: refund, itemized accounting, estimated repair costs, or remaining balance.
- A clear request for payment or a complete accounting.
Sample Indiana demand language
I am writing about the security deposit for [Rental Address]. The rental agreement ended on [Date], I returned possession and keys on [Date], and I provided my mailing address in writing on [Date] by [method].
Indiana law generally requires the landlord to return the security deposit or send an itemized written notice within 45 days after the rental agreement ends, possession is returned, and the tenant supplies a mailing address in writing.
I have not received the deposit balance or a complete itemized accounting. Please send the amount due or a complete written accounting with any refund balance within 5 business days.
Keep it professional
Do not make the first demand sound like a lawsuit filing. Be direct, but keep the facts clean. Save the stronger statute-backed language for a later escalation if the landlord still does not respond.
Related Indiana guides
- Indiana security deposit law
- Indiana deadline guide
- Indiana move-out checklist
- Indiana Small Claims Court guide
If you want a staged sequence instead of writing from scratch, the Indiana recovery system keeps the notices in order: a first request, a follow-up when the deadline issue appears, a stronger entitlement step, and a final demand if the landlord still does not resolve it.
Get the Deposit Recovery System
Important: This is general information and not legal advice.