Kentucky security deposit law
Can I get more than my deposit back in Kentucky?
The short answer
Sometimes. Kentucky law focuses on full return of what is owed under KRS § 383.580, plus court costs, and other remedies where the lease or courts allow.
Kentucky law centers on making you whole: full return of the wrongfully held amount under KRS § 383.580, plus court costs, with additional remedies where a lease or a court provides them.
What this means practically: the money at stake is often larger than the deposit, and a landlord facing forfeiture or costs has a real incentive to settle a documented claim.
How tenants actually unlock these remedies: not by mentioning them on the phone, but in a formal demand letter that cites KRS § 383.580, 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 Kentucky rules at a glance. Governing statute: KRS § 383.580. Return deadline: 30 days (60 days with deductions claimed). Court for disputes: Small Claims Court, claims up to $2,500.
See what your landlord owes you under Kentucky law.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a Kentucky-specific demand letter that applies these rules to your case, ready in about ten minutes.