Alabama security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in Alabama
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When did you move out?
This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.
Statute-verified in 50 U.S. jurisdictions and counting — everywhere else, a specialist prepares your case by hand until verification clears.
Alabama security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
60 days
Statute
Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 (deadline at (b)–(e); penalty at (f))
Within 60 days after BOTH termination of the tenancy AND delivery of possession, the landlord must deliver the itemized written notice together with any amount due. The tenant must give the landlord a valid written forwarding address upon vacating; absent one, the landlord mails first-class to the last known address or the property address, and timely first-class mailing is sufficient compliance. CAUTION: any deposit (or outstanding refund check) unclaimed by the tenant is FORFEITED 90 days after mailing — respond to any refund mailing promptly. Deposit cap: one month's rent, except additional amounts for pets, premises alterations, or increased liability risks.
What can a landlord legally deduct in Alabama?
Allowed
- ✓Accrued rent
- ✓Damages the landlord suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with § 35-9A-301, all as itemized in a written notice
Not allowed
- ✗Anything outside the two categories above
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Alabama?
If the landlord fails to mail a timely refund or accounting within the 60-day period, the landlord SHALL pay the tenant DOUBLE the amount of the tenant's ORIGINAL DEPOSIT (§ 35-9A-201(f)) — the doubling attaches to the whole original deposit, not merely the withheld portion, and no bad-faith showing is required.
How TenantNex helps
- 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
- 2. We generate a demand letter citing Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 (deadline at (b)–(e); penalty at (f)) and your exact deadline.
- 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
- 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.
$39 per case — founding price, one flat fee, no subscription.
Alabama tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 (deadline at (b)–(e); penalty at (f)) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-07.
Every fact on this page is verified against Alabama's official statutory text as of 2026-09-07. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Alabama.
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See what you're owed
FREE · 30 secondsYour money is due back
60 days
Alabama law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
up to 2× your deposit
Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.
Ala. Code § 35-9A-201 (deadline at (b)–(e); penalty at (f)) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-07
Your 60 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 2× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.
Secure checkout · Letter ready in 30 min · Full refund if not satisfied
Used by renters in 4 states — 15 people in the past two weeks found out exactly what they're owed this way.
We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.
Pay once. We handle the rest.
One case, one price — the letter, the certified mailing, the tracking, and the follow-up. No subscription, no recurring anything.
| Option | Price | Effort | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | — | All of it | You chase |
| TenantNex | $39 | Done for you | We chase |
| Small-claims services | $149–448 | — | — |
| Hire an attorney | $300–2,000+ | — | — |
An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.
Recover
We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.
- Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
- Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
- Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
- Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
- Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
- Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
- Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
- Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days
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What TenantNex is — and isn't
TenantNex is not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.