Security Deposit Not Returned in Connecticut: What Can I Do?
You moved out and your landlord has not returned your security deposit. Connecticut law sets a deadline for the return and limits what your landlord can subtract. This page explains that deadline, what you can do if your landlord ignores it, and what you can collect in court.
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Connecticut law sets a deadline for your landlord to return your security deposit and the interest it earned after you move out. Your landlord must send it back no later than 21 days after your rental ends. If you send your address in writing less than 15 days before that date, your landlord instead gets 15 days from receiving it.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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As soon as you move out, send your landlord your new address in writing. Your landlord must send your deposit, and any money you are still owed, to that address. Giving your address late can push back your deadline.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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Write down the date you send your forwarding address to your landlord. Keep a copy of what you sent, such as a mailed letter's receipt or a saved email. This can help prove when your deadline started if your landlord later disagrees.
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When your rental ends, your landlord has two choices. Your landlord can send your full deposit back with the interest it earned, or send the rest of it after taking out what you owe. If your landlord takes anything out, your landlord must also send a written list explaining what was taken and why.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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Connecticut law limits what counts as money you owe for this purpose. Your landlord can subtract rent or unpaid utilities (water, electric, gas). Your landlord can also subtract money for damage if you do not meet your duties as a tenant. This includes keeping the unit clean and not damaging it on purpose or by being careless. Your landlord can also subtract the cost of changing your locks, if you have not already paid for it.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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If your landlord sells the building while you live there, the new landlord usually takes over the duty to return your deposit. This does not apply if the new landlord is a receiver (someone a court appoints to collect rent from tenants). This applies once your rental ends under the new landlord.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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If your landlord breaks the deposit return rules, your landlord owes you twice the amount of your deposit. For a $1,000 deposit, that is $2,000. If the only rule your landlord broke is not paying your deposit's interest, your landlord instead owes $10 or twice the interest, whichever is more. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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Connecticut's Banking Commissioner (a state office) can help if your landlord misses the deadline to return your deposit. This office cannot help if your landlord already gave you written notice with a good faith claim that you owe for damage. Otherwise, it can look into your case and tell your landlord to follow the law.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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The commissioner cannot step in if your landlord has a good faith reason to believe you owe money for damage. This only applies if your landlord already gave you written notice of that claim. This is true even if you disagree with your landlord's reason. In that case, you can go to court to try to get your deposit back.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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You can sue your landlord in court to get your deposit back, or to collect money your landlord owes you under Connecticut's deposit law. You get this money only if you win your case and your landlord pays. Suing does not stop you from also asking for other money you may be owed under a different law.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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If your landlord does not live in Connecticut, your landlord must name someone in Connecticut to accept legal papers for them, in writing. That person must be Connecticut's Secretary of the State (a state office). This makes it possible for you to sue your landlord in a Connecticut court, even if your landlord lives out of state.
✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026
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