Alaska security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in Alaska
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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.
Alaska security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
30 days
Statute
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (deadlines at (g); itemization at (b); penalty at (d); caps at (a), (h))
Two deadlines exist: if the tenant (or landlord) gave termination notice complying with AS 34.03.290 AND no damage deductions are taken, the landlord must mail the itemized notice and refund within 14 DAYS after termination and delivery of possession; the landlord gets 30 DAYS when costs are deducted for tenant-caused damages, or when the tenant did not give compliant notice (we compute from the 30-day outer bound so no asserted date is ever premature). If the landlord lacks a mailing address but knows how to contact the tenant, a reasonable effort to deliver is required. Deposit plus prepaid rent may not exceed two months' rent (exempt where rent exceeds $2,000/month); a pet deposit may add up to one month's rent, separately accounted. Deposits must be held in trust, never commingled.
What can a landlord legally deduct in Alaska?
Allowed
- ✓Accrued rent
- ✓Damages from the tenant's noncompliance with AS 34.03.120 — deterioration of the premises and contents — itemized in written notice
- ✓Pet-deposit portion only for damages directly related to the tenant's pet
Not allowed
- ✗Deterioration from normal wear and tear
- ✗Deterioration caused by the landlord's own failure to prepare the premises or meet the landlord's statutory obligations
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Alaska?
If the landlord WILFULLY fails to comply with the itemization/refund duty, the tenant may recover an amount NOT TO EXCEED TWICE the actual amount withheld (§ 34.03.070(d)). Willfulness is required and the 2x is a ceiling, not automatic — never assert an automatic doubling.
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 Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (deadlines at (g); itemization at (b); penalty at (d); caps at (a), (h)) 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.
Alaska tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (deadlines at (g); itemization at (b); penalty at (d); caps at (a), (h)) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-07.
Every fact on this page is verified against Alaska'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 Alaska.
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See what you're owed
FREE · 30 secondsYour money is due back
30 days
Alaska 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.
Alaska Stat. § 34.03.070 (deadlines at (g); itemization at (b); penalty at (d); caps at (a), (h)) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-07
Your 30 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.
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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.