How State Statutory Deadlines Protect Tenants

Every US jurisdiction imposes a strict statutory window during which a residential landlord must either return the tenant's security deposit in full or deliver an itemized list of lawful deductions accompanied by supporting invoices and receipts. If a landlord fails to postmark or hand-deliver the deposit statement within this designated timeframe, most state laws dictate that the landlord completely forfeits all rights to retain any portion of the deposit.

The Critical Role of the Written Forwarding Address

In virtually all states—including Texas (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.107) and Ohio (R.C. 5321.16)—the landlord's statutory clock does not officially start until the tenant provides a written forwarding address where the refund or accounting can be mailed. Always send this address via Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested or trackable electronic communication to preserve definitive proof of delivery.