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Connecticut security deposit: 21 days to get it back

Within 21 days after the tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord receives the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later, the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, or send the balance with a written itemized statement of damages.

What the law requires

Itemized statement
If keeping any amount for damages, the landlord must deliver the balance with a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages. Accrued interest is also due within 21 days after the tenancy ends. The statute sets no receipt threshold.
Forwarding address
The tenant may notify the landlord in writing of a forwarding address when the tenancy ends. The deadline is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after the landlord receives that written address; the Department of Banking says tenants should provide it in writing.
If the landlord breaks the rules
A landlord who does not return the deposit or send a valid itemized statement on time is liable for twice the amount of the security deposit paid. If the only default is unpaid accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the interest, whichever is greater. The statute does not mention attorney fees.
Deposit cap
Two months' rent; one month's rent if the tenant is 62 or older.
Small claims limit
$5,000 in Superior Court (Small Claims)

Recent changes

P.A. 23-207 cut the return deadline from 30 days to 21 days (effective Oct. 1, 2023, just before the 2024 window). 2025-2026 bills to cap deposits at one month (e.g., HB 5257) or repeal the cap (SB 253) were raised in committee, but no evidence they passed.

If your landlord misses the deadline

  1. Write down your dates and gather proof: move-out date, the date you gave your forwarding address, the deposit amount, and anything the landlord sent. Photos and receipts help.
  2. Send a written demand by certified mail, keep the receipt, and cite Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21. Give a date to respond.
  3. If you still aren't paid, file in Superior Court (Small Claims). Deposit claims up to $5,000 can be filed there, usually without a lawyer. Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

What a Connecticut demand letter looks like

Re: Demand for return of security deposit / Rental address: [Street address, unit, city, state ZIP]

Dear [Landlord name]:

I rented the property above from you under a lease that began on [lease start date]. I paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount] on [date paid]. I moved out and returned possession on [move-out date].

My forwarding address is [forwarding address]. Please send my deposit and any required statement to that address.

[A.] I have not received my deposit or an itemized statement of deductions. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit, or send an itemized statement of any deductions, within 21 days after the tenant moves out and gives a forwarding address. That deadline passed on [deadline date].

Preview of the first part of letter one. Yellow marks the parts you fill in.

Common questions

How long does a landlord in Connecticut have to return a security deposit?

Within 21 days after the tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord receives the tenant's written forwarding address, whichever is later, the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, or send the balance with a written itemized statement of damages.

What happens if a Connecticut landlord keeps the deposit wrongfully?

A landlord who does not return the deposit or send a valid itemized statement on time is liable for twice the amount of the security deposit paid. If the only default is unpaid accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the interest, whichever is greater. The statute does not mention attorney fees.

Do I have to give my Connecticut landlord a forwarding address?

The tenant may notify the landlord in writing of a forwarding address when the tenancy ends. The deadline is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after the landlord receives that written address; the Department of Banking says tenants should provide it in writing.

Where do I sue for my deposit in Connecticut?

Deposit claims up to $5,000 can be filed in Superior Court (Small Claims). Check the court's website for current filing fees and forms.

Other states

Rules reviewed October 2026. Laws change, so confirm with the statute before you rely on this page.