California security deposit law
How do I write a security deposit demand letter in California?
The short answer
Cite Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5, state the 21 days deadline and the date it passed, itemize the amount owed, set a 10 to 14 day response date, and send it certified mail. Specific beats angry: the statute does the threatening for you.
A California demand letter works when it reads like it was written by someone who knows the law. The structure:
1. The facts: tenancy address, move-out date, deposit amount, what has and has not been returned. 2. The law: cite Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 and the 21 days return deadline, and the itemized-statement requirement, and state the date the deadline passed. 3. The demand: the exact dollar amount, a response deadline of 10 to 14 days, and where to send payment. 4. The consequence: state that you are prepared to pursue the matter in Small Claims Court, where California law provides for up to 2x the deposit in statutory damages for bad-faith withholding.
Tone: calm, factual, specific. Dates, amounts, and statute citations do the persuading; anger and threats undermine it. Address it to the landlord or manager exactly as named in your lease.
Delivery is part of the letter: send it by certified mail with return receipt, and keep a copy. The dated receipt is your proof of demand, the exhibit a Small Claims Court judge asks for first.
Or skip the drafting: our service builds a California-specific demand letter that cites Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5, your deadline, and your numbers and ready to send in about ten minutes.
The California rules at a glance. Governing statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5. Return deadline: 21 days. Statutory damages: up to 2x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Court for disputes: Small Claims Court, claims up to $12,500.
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