Montana Security Deposit Not Returned

What Montana renters can do when a security deposit is not returned, including the 30-day list/refund rule, 10-day clean-return branch, cleaning notice, address proof, and next steps.

If your Montana security deposit was not returned, start with the dates and the written list. Montana is not just a generic 30-day-after-move-out state.

The landlord generally must provide a written list of any rent due and any damage or cleaning charges, together with any refund balance, within 30 days after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs first.

Watch this step

Give the landlord your new mailing or forwarding address in writing and keep proof. Montana allows mailing to the new address you provide, or to your last-known address if you do not provide one. The address step does not erase the amount owed, but it can keep the mailing record clean.

Check the 10-day branch

If there are no damages, no cleaning required, no unpaid rent, and you can show no utilities are unpaid, Montana requires return of the deposit within 10 days. Save utility confirmations if this branch matters.

What to ask for

Your written follow-up should ask for:

the deposit balance
the written list of any rent due and damage or cleaning charges
proof of any claimed unpaid utilities, late charges, lease penalties, or other money owed
the cleaning notice and 24-hour cure record, if cleaning is claimed
the move-in condition statement if damage or cleaning is disputed
payment of the amount wrongfully withheld

If nothing is returned

If the deadline has passed and the landlord has not sent the refund or required written list, move in writing. A clear sequence is usually better than one angry message:

confirm the new address, move-out, surrender, and key-return record
send a firm follow-up for the refund or written list
send a statute-backed entitlement notice if the issue remains unresolved
send a final demand before deciding whether small claims or another step makes sense

DepositBackUSA - Montana Recovery System

The Montana Recovery System gives you the four-letter sequence with the address record, deadline, written list, cleaning-notice issue, and final demand already organized.

Get the Montana Recovery System

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