Can my landlord charge me more than my security deposit in District of Columbia?

A bill for more than your deposit is legal in District of Columbia only when real damage genuinely exceeds it, and the landlord carries the burden of proving that with itemization, invoices, and evidence under the same rules in D.C. Code § 42-3502.17 that govern deductions.

What makes an over-deposit bill collapse: charges for normal wear and tear, new-for-old pricing with no depreciation, vague "cleaning and repairs" line items with no invoices, and damage that existed at move-in. If the deductions inside the bill fail, the balance-due fails with them, and your deposit claim comes back to life.

Do not ignore the bill, and do not simply pay it. Dispute it in writing: a letter that responds charge by charge, demands documentation, and asserts your deposit rights. Ignoring it risks a collections referral; paying it forfeits leverage. A written, statute-grounded dispute freezes the situation in your favor.

And remember the burden of proof runs against the landlord: in Superior Court — Small Claims Branch, they must prove each charge, not the other way around. Tenants with move-in photos and a documented dispute letter defeat inflated bills far more often than they expect.

The District of Columbia rules at a glance. Governing statute: D.C. Code § 42-3502.17. Return deadline: 45 days. Statutory damages: up to 3x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Court for disputes: Superior Court — Small Claims Branch, claims up to $10,000.