How many days does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?

Connecticut law gives landlords 21 days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) (deadline and penalty).

What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Connecticut?

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) (deadline and penalty), allowed deductions generally include damages suffered by the landlord by reason of the tenant's failure to comply with the tenant's obligations, itemized as to nature and amount and unpaid rent and unpaid utility payments (included in the itemization requirement). Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

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Connecticut security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Connecticut

Your landlord has 21 days under Connecticut law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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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.

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Connecticut security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

21 days

Statute

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) (deadline and penalty)

*** CORRECTED — 21 DAYS, NOT 30. Public Act 23-207 shortened this effective October 1, 2023. Any form or template still saying 30 days is using a repealed number. *** CONDITIONAL, later of two clocks: not later than (a) TWENTY-ONE days after termination of the tenancy, or (b) FIFTEEN days after receiving written notification of the tenant's forwarding address, WHICHEVER IS LATER. If the tenant never gives a written forwarding address, the landlord need not return the deposit or give a notice of damages until fifteen days after receiving one — so the single most valuable step a Connecticut tenant can take is to send the forwarding address in writing, certified mail with return receipt. Within the deadline the landlord must deliver either (A) the full deposit plus accrued interest, or (B) the balance plus accrued interest after deductions, together with a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of the damages.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Connecticut?

Allowed

✓Damages suffered by the landlord by reason of the tenant's failure to comply with the tenant's obligations, itemized as to nature and amount
✓Unpaid rent and unpaid utility payments (included in the itemization requirement)

Not allowed

✗Any amount not itemized as to nature and amount in the required written statement
✗Accrued interest — Connecticut deposits bear interest that must be paid to the tenant; note tenants forfeit interest for any month they were more than ten days late on rent, unless a previously agreed late charge was imposed

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Connecticut?

'Any landlord who violates any provision of this subsection shall be liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid by such tenant, except that, if the only violation is the failure to deliver the accrued interest, such landlord shall be liable for ten dollars or twice the amount of the accrued interest, whichever is greater.' NOTE this is twice the WHOLE DEPOSIT PAID, not twice the portion withheld — unusually strong for tenants. The interest-only exception is confirmed and quoted above.

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 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) (deadline and penalty) 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.

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Connecticut tenant rights resources

HUD — tenant rights and resources
Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
Key statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) (deadline and penalty) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.

Every fact on this page is verified against Connecticut's official statutory text as of 2026-09-04. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Connecticut.

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Your money is due back

21 days

Connecticut 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.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21(d)(2) (deadline and penalty) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04

Your 21 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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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.

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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.

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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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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.