Dear Landlord, about the deposit.

why deposits come back slowly

Deposits come back slowly because silence works. Most tenants let it go, and landlords know that.

• Most states set a deadline to return a deposit or explain the deductions, commonly two to four weeks. California, for one, gives 21 days.
• Deductions arrive vague when they arrive at all: ‘cleaning’ and ‘repairs’ with no receipts attached.
• Normal wear and tear generally cannot be charged to you, but that line gets tested on every move-out.
• Your leverage is real, but using it means letters, deadlines, and follow-ups nobody has time for.

how ren gets it back

ren is the tenant who read the lease and has all day.

• Checks the timeline: when you moved out, what deadline applies where you live, and whether it already passed.
• Contacts the landlord or the management company and asks the precise question: where is the deposit, and where is the itemized list.
• Pushes back on deductions that look like ordinary wear and tear, using the move-out photos you provide.
• Keeps a written record of every ask and every answer.
• Follows up on a schedule, politely, and does not lose interest.
• If it heads toward small claims, gets your file in order so the next step is easy.

ren asks before it accepts any partial amount or agrees to anything on your behalf.

what ren needs from you

The address, the move-out date, the landlord’s contact, and your go ahead. Move-out photos help; forward what you have.

questions, answered

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?

It depends on the state, commonly 14 to 30 days after move-out, and the clock usually comes with a duty to itemize any deductions. ren finds the rule that applies to you and uses it in the conversation.

Can they charge me for cleaning and repainting?

Ordinary wear and tear is generally on the landlord. Damage beyond that can be deducted, usually with an itemized list. Vague lump-sum ‘cleaning’ deductions are exactly the thing to question, and ren questions them.

The landlord is not answering at all. What then?

Silence is a strategy, and it works on people, not on ren. It keeps reaching out through every channel, keeps the record, and makes not answering the more annoying option.

Is it worth the hassle for a few hundred dollars?

It is your money, and the process costs you nothing but the go ahead. The whole point of ren is that ‘not worth the hassle’ stops being a reason.

How do I get ren?

ren is in private beta on iOS. Leave your email on this page and invitations go out in the order requests arrive.

ren is a personal concierge that does the hard things, and this letter is one of them. See also the hospital bill, the insurance appeal, and the warranty claim. For what ren is and what governs it, read about ren and the constitution.