Illinois Security Deposit Demand Letter
In Illinois, a landlord has 45 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions (as of 2026; source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)). This letter cites that deadline, states the amount and your forwarding address, and gives the landlord a date to respond before you file. Free, no signup.
Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
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Demand for Return of Security Deposit
__________
From: __________
To: __________
Re: Security deposit for __________
I vacated the above property on __________ and returned possession to you. I paid a security deposit of $______ at the start of the tenancy. To date I have not received the deposit, nor a written itemized statement of any deductions.
Under Illinois law (765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)), a landlord must return the security deposit, or deliver an itemized statement of deductions, within 45 days after the tenant moves out. That period has passed.
Please send the full deposit to my forwarding address: __________ .
If I do not receive the deposit, or a lawful itemized statement, within ____ days of the date of this letter, I intend to file a claim in Illinois small claims court for the deposit and any additional amounts the statute allows, without further notice.
I would prefer to resolve this without going to court. You can reach me at the address above.
Generated with SealFormsCites the Illinois deadline · 2026
Illinois deposit rules at a glance
- Return deadline
- 45 days after move-out
- Deposit cap
- No statutory limit
As of 2026. Source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗. Want the exact due date? Use the deposit return calculator.
Before you send it — a 4-point checklist
- Confirm the deadline has run. Count 45 calendar days from your move-out date; whether weekends or the day of delivery shift it depends on the statute.
- Match every fact to a document. Lease, deposit receipt, move-out photos, key-return proof.
- Send it traceably — certified mail with return receipt — and keep the proof with your signed copy.
- Calendar your deadline. If it passes, our Illinois small claims guide covers the court, the fee, and the limit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Illinois landlord have to return the deposit?
45 days after you move out, as of 2026 (source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)). Counted in calendar days; check the statute for whether the clock starts at move-out, lease end, or receipt of your forwarding address, and whether a weekend deadline rolls over. Use the deposit return calculator to get the exact date.
Is there a limit on how much deposit a Illinois landlord can charge?
Illinois sets no statutory cap on the security deposit (as of 2026; source: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act)), so the amount is whatever the lease says. The return deadline still applies to the full amount.
When should I send this letter?
Once the 45-day period has run with no refund and no itemized statement of deductions, or as soon as you receive an itemization you dispute. Sending it before the deadline has no teeth; a short reminder with your forwarding address is the better first step.
How many days should I give the landlord to respond?
10 to 14 days is typical. The generator puts your number in the letter and states that you will file in small claims if it passes. Pick a date you are prepared to act on.
What if the landlord ignores the letter?
File in Illinois small claims court. Many state statutes let the court award a penalty on top of the deposit when the landlord missed the deadline or withheld in bad faith; the Illinois statute linked on this page is the authority for whether and how much. Bring the lease, your move-out photos, the letter, and the delivery receipt.
Deposit rules in every state, cited to statute: security deposit limits by state.
How Illinois compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Illinois: 765 ILCS 710 (Security Deposit Return Act) ↗.
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 45 days — above the national median of 30 days across the 51 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Indiana (45 days), Iowa (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Missouri (30 days), Wisconsin (21 days).
Security deposit demand letter in other states
More Illinois legal forms
Different state? See security deposit demand letters by state →