Security Deposit Demand Letter — Alabama

Alabama Security Deposit Demand Letter

Date: [__/__/____]

To: [LANDLORD OR CURRENT OWNER NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

From: [TENANT NAME]

[RETURN ADDRESS]

Re: Security deposit for [RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS]

Dear [LANDLORD NAME]:

I rented the above residential property from [START DATE] through [TERMINATION DATE]. I delivered possession on [__/__/____]. I paid $[________] as the original security deposit and $[________] in other charges identified as [DESCRIBE CHARGES AND PURPOSE: ________________________________]. I provided my valid forwarding address in writing on [__/__/____] by [METHOD: ________________________________]. My current mailing address is shown above.

I am requesting payment and an explanation of any withholding under Ala. Code § 35-9A-201. My records of the move-out and deposit are as follows:

Section 35-9A-201(b) allows the landlord to apply security to accrued rent and damage suffered from tenant noncompliance with § 35-9A-301, with an itemized written notice and the amount due within 60 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession. Subsection (c) requires an itemized list within that period if the entire deposit is not refunded. The mailing rules and written forwarding-address requirement appear in subsections (d) and (e).

Select and complete the applicable demand:

☐ No timely refund or accounting was mailed. As of [__/__/____], I have received no refund or itemized accounting, and I have no record that either was timely mailed. Under § 35-9A-201(f), failure to mail a timely refund or accounting requires payment of double the tenant's original deposit. My original deposit was $[________]; twice that amount is $[________]. I received $[________] toward that amount. I demand the remaining $[________], subject to correction if you provide evidence of a timely mailing or payment.

☐ A timely accounting was mailed, but the withholding is disputed. I received your itemized accounting dated [__/__/____], claiming deductions of $[________]. I dispute the following amounts and request a refund of $[________]. My reasons and supporting records appear below. This checkbox alone does not claim the § 35-9A-201(f) double-deposit remedy.

☐ Excess security was collected. My monthly periodic rent was $[________]. Security for ordinary rental obligations was $[________], excluding $[________] specifically attributable to [PETS / PREMISES CHANGES / INCREASED LIABILITY RISK: ________________________________]. I dispute $[________] under the one-month limit and stated exceptions in § 35-9A-201(a).

Where a deduction is attributed to damage, please identify the condition, the tenant act or omission said to violate § 35-9A-301, the cost actually incurred, and any records supporting that cost. My move-in and move-out records show [SPECIFIC CONDITION AND EVIDENCE: ________________________________].

Please send payment of $[________] and your written response by [__/__/____] to [PAYMENT AND RESPONSE ADDRESS: ________________________________]. This requested response date is a settlement deadline, separate from the statute's 60-day refund and accounting period. If you contend that a refund or accounting was timely mailed, please provide its date, destination address, and supporting mailing record. Please preserve the lease, deposit ledger, notices, photographs, repair records, and mailing records.

If we cannot resolve the matter, I may seek the remedies supported by the facts and § 35-9A-201. I reserve all applicable rights.

Sincerely,

________________________________________

[TENANT NAME OR AUTHORIZED COUNSEL]

[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

Enclosures: [LEASE / DEPOSIT RECEIPT / FORWARDING-ADDRESS NOTICE / MOVE-OUT RECORDS / ACCOUNTING / PHOTOGRAPHS: ________________________________]

Before sending: confirm this is a residential landlord-tenant arrangement governed by the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; § 35-9A-122 lists excluded arrangements. Confirm the dates, original deposit amount, mailing record, and selected checkbox against the evidence.