Security Deposit Demand Letter — Delaware
SECURITY DEPOSIT DEMAND LETTER
Date: [__/__/____]
| Address | Details |
|---|---|
| To | [LANDLORD OR PROPERTY MANAGER NAME] |
| Landlord address in rental agreement | [STREET, CITY, STATE ZIP] |
| From | [TENANT NAME] |
| Tenant address in agreement or written forwarding address | [STREET, CITY, STATE ZIP] |
Re: Security deposit for [RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS]
Dear [LANDLORD NAME]:
I demand return of the amount of my security deposit that remains due for the rental agreement for [PROPERTY ADDRESS]. The agreement expired or terminated on [__/__/____]. I paid a security deposit of $[____] and, if applicable, a pet deposit of $[____]. My written forwarding address was provided on [__/__/____ / NOT PROVIDED] by [METHOD]; a copy is [ENCLOSED / NOT APPLICABLE]. The address specified for me in the rental agreement is [ADDRESS / NONE].
Basis for this demand
Select and complete the grounds supported by the records:
- ☐ Unreturned balance. More than 20 days have passed since the rental agreement expired or terminated, and the landlord has not returned $[____] that is due under 25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(g).
- ☐ Missing or inadequate damage list and tender. After the address condition below is checked, the landlord did not provide, within that period, an itemized list of damage to the premises with the estimated cost of repairing each item and the required tender. Under § 5514(f), that failure acknowledges that no payment for property damage is due.
- ☐ Disputed deduction. The landlord withheld $[____] for [DESCRIBE ITEM]. The deduction is disputed because [FACTS SHOWING NORMAL WEAR, NO TENANT-CAUSED DAMAGE, PAYMENT ALREADY MADE, OR ANOTHER § 5514(c) LIMIT]. Supporting records: [IDENTIFY].
- ☐ Excess deposit. The landlord retained $[____] above a cap that applies under § 5514(a). The lease term was [TERM]; the primary residence and furnished-unit facts are [FACTS].
Address condition: This demand for double the wrongfully withheld amount assumes that an address was specified in the rental agreement or that I gave a forwarding address in writing at or before termination. If neither occurred, § 5514(h) removes the landlord's notice duty and double-amount liability, while preserving a claim for the unused deposit amount if made in writing within one year after expiration or termination. This letter is a written claim for that unused amount if that exception applies.
Amount requested
| Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deposit amount paid and covered by this claim | $[____] |
| Less supported lawful deductions and amounts already returned | $[____] |
| Amount wrongfully withheld or unused amount due (P) | $[____] |
| Total statutory recovery requested, if § 5514(g)(1) applies: 2 × P | $[____] |
| Amount requested if § 5514(h) removes double-amount liability: P | $[____] |
The applicable total above includes the withheld principal; it is not added to the principal again. If I also claim a pet-deposit balance, that balance and any applicable remedy under § 5514(i) are identified separately here: [AMOUNT AND CALCULATION / NONE].
Please send payment of $[APPLICABLE TOTAL] to [PAYEE] at [MAILING ADDRESS] within [14 / OTHER] days after receiving this letter. This response period is a request for resolution; it does not change the statutory return period. If you dispute the calculation, please provide the damage list, repair estimates, proof of payment or return, and other records supporting each deduction by [DATE].
I reserve the right to seek relief available under Delaware law if the matter is not resolved.
Sincerely,
| Signature field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Signature | [________________________________] |
| Name and capacity | [TENANT / DELAWARE COUNSEL NAME AND BAR NUMBER] |
| Date | [__/__/____] |
| Contact | [PHONE OR EMAIL] |
Enclosures: ☐ Lease ☐ Deposit payment record ☐ Written forwarding-address proof ☐ Landlord's itemization ☐ Move-in/move-out records ☐ Other: [____]
About this template
- Last updated
- September 30, 2026
- Citations checked
- September 30, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Delaware
- Category
- Demand Letters
Legal authority
- 25 Del. C. § 5514 (residential security deposits, pet deposits, return, and remedies)
A demand letter is a formal written request to fix a problem or pay what is owed, sent before anyone files a lawsuit. It gives the other side a real chance to settle, creates a record of your attempt to resolve things, and in many cases (unpaid debts, insurance claims, broken contracts) starts a legally required response window. A well-written demand letter lays out what happened, what you want, and a deadline to act, which is often enough to get results without ever going to court.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on September 30, 2026.
25 Del. C. § 5514(a)(2)-(4) (checked September 30, 2026): "No landlord may require a security deposit in excess of 1 month’s rent where the rental agreement is for 1 year or more. No landlord may require a security deposit in excess of 1 month’s rent (with the exception of federally-assisted housing regulations), for primary residential tenancies of undefined terms or month to month where the tenancy has lasted 1 year or more."
25 Del. C. § 5514(a)(4) (checked September 30, 2026): "The security deposit limits set forth above shall not apply to furnished rental units."
25 Del. C. § 5514(b) (checked September 30, 2026): "Each security deposit shall be placed by the landlord in an escrow bank account in a federally-insured banking institution with an office that accepts deposits within the State."
25 Del. C. § 5514(c) (checked September 30, 2026): "To reimburse the landlord for actual damages caused to the premises by the tenant which exceed normal wear and tear, or which cannot be corrected by painting and ordinary cleaning"
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