Kansas security deposit law
Can I get more than my deposit back in Kansas?
The short answer
Often, yes. Kansas law allows up to 1.5x the deposit in statutory damages for wrongful withholding under K.S.A. § 58-2550, on top of the deposit itself.
Kansas is one of the states where wrongful withholding costs the landlord more than the deposit: K.S.A. § 58-2550 allows courts to award up to 1.5x the deposit in statutory damages, in addition to returning the deposit itself.
What this means practically: the money at stake is often larger than the deposit, and a landlord facing a potential 1.5x judgment has a strong incentive to settle when a tenant demonstrates they know the statute. Attorney's fees can also be recoverable, which changes the landlord's calculation further.
How tenants actually unlock these remedies: not by mentioning them on the phone, but in a formal demand letter that cites K.S.A. § 58-2550, the missed deadline, and the specific exposure. That letter is usually the moment the landlord's cost-benefit flips.
If it still goes unanswered, Small Claims Court is where these damages get awarded, and the demand letter is the exhibit that proves you gave fair notice.
The Kansas rules at a glance. Governing statute: K.S.A. § 58-2550. Return deadline: 14 days (30 days with deductions claimed). Statutory damages: up to 1.5x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Attorney's fees: recoverable in qualifying cases. Court for disputes: Small Claims Court, claims up to $4,000.
See what your landlord owes you under Kansas law.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a Kansas-specific demand letter that applies these rules to your case, ready in about ten minutes.