Get Your Deposit Back
Security deposit issues are common. The process to deal with them usually isn’t.
This site shows you what the law says, what actually matters, and what to do next — step by step.
Start based on your situation
What the law actually says
In Maryland, landlords generally must return the deposit plus required interest within 45 days after the end of the tenancy.
If they keep any of it, they generally must send a written list of damages and itemized costs within that same 45-day period.
If they withhold money without the required written accounting, Maryland can strip the right to withhold for damages. If they had no reasonable basis for failing to return money due, you could have up-to-3x withheld-amount and attorney-fee leverage.
You can handle this yourself
Most situations follow a simple pattern:
- Understand the timeline
- Document what happened
- Send a clear written demand
- Follow up or escalate if needed
The guides on this site walk through each step so you can do it yourself if you want to, from move-out proof through demand and possible small claims.
Why this is structured this way
This approach came out of a simple problem: a lot of renters deal with the same situation, but the process is usually scattered and unclear.
Once the timeline, documentation, and communication are handled properly, many issues get resolved without going anywhere near a courtroom.
Over time, that turned into a repeatable process — one that tends to move things forward and, in many cases, gets your deposit back before it ever reaches court.
Where to start
You can work through the steps yourself. This puts Maryland's timing, proof, interest, itemized-accounting, deduction challenge, and final-demand sequence in one place.
Get the Deposit Recovery SystemImportant: This site provides general information and is not legal advice.