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

Delaware law gives landlords 20 days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, under 25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(h).

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

Under 25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(h), allowed deductions generally include actual damages to the premises caused by the tenant which exceed normal wear and tear, or which cannot be corrected by painting and ordinary cleaning and rental arrearage due under the rental agreement, including late charges and rent due for premature termination or abandonment. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

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Delaware security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Delaware

Your landlord has 20 days under Delaware 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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Delaware security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

20 days

Statute

25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(h)

Within 20 days after termination or expiration of the rental agreement the landlord must provide an itemized list of damages and the estimated cost of repair for each, and tender payment of the difference. If the landlord is not entitled to any portion, the deposit must be remitted within 20 days. FAILURE to provide the itemized list within 20 days constitutes an ACKNOWLEDGMENT by the landlord that NO payment for damages is due. The tenant has 10 days after receiving the tendered payment plus list to object in writing; otherwise acceptance constitutes agreement to the landlord's stated damages. IMPORTANT CONDITIONALITY under § 5514(h): if the tenant fails to give an address in the rental agreement or a written forwarding address at or before termination, the landlord is relieved of the notice duty AND of double-damages liability — but remains liable for the unused portion if the tenant claims it in writing within 1 year.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Delaware?

Allowed

✓Actual damages to the premises caused by the tenant which exceed normal wear and tear, or which cannot be corrected by painting and ordinary cleaning
✓Rental arrearage due under the rental agreement, including late charges and rent due for premature termination or abandonment
✓Reasonable expenses of renovating and re-renting caused by the tenant's premature termination (where termination is under § 5314, capped at 1 month's rent)

Not allowed

✗Normal wear and tear
✗Conditions correctable by painting and ordinary cleaning

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Delaware?

DOUBLE (2x) the amount wrongfully withheld where the landlord fails to remit the deposit, or the difference between the deposit and the itemized damages, within 20 days — § 5514(g)(1). Separately under § 5514(g)(2): failure to disclose the escrow account location within 20 days of a written tenant request, or failure to hold the deposit in a federally-insured institution with a Delaware office, constitutes FORFEITURE of the deposit to the tenant; and failure to return the full deposit within 20 days of the effective date of forfeiture entitles the tenant to double the deposit. NOTE the § 5514(h) address precondition to double damages.

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 25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(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.

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Delaware tenant rights resources

HUD — tenant rights and resources
Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
Key statute: 25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(h) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-04.

Every fact on this page is verified against Delaware'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 Delaware.

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Your money is due back

20 days

Delaware 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.

25 Del. C. § 5514(e)-(h) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-04

Your 20 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.