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

Indiana law gives landlords 45 days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions, under Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 (return, deadline, written-address precondition); § 32-31-3-14 to -16 (damage list, forfeiture, remedy).

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

Under Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 (return, deadline, written-address precondition); § 32-31-3-14 to -16 (damage list, forfeiture, remedy), allowed deductions generally include accrued rent, rent in arrearage, and rent due for premature termination by the tenant and actual damages to the rental unit or ancillary facility not resulting from ordinary wear and tear. Normal wear and tear is not deductible.

Founding price — $39 per case·Ends in 2:00:00

Indiana security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Indiana

Your landlord has 45 days under Indiana 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.

We go after every dollar of your deposit — and we don't stop until it's resolved.Letter ready in 30 min · Ships today.

Not satisfied? Full refund, no questions asked.

Step 2 of 3

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.

Statutes verified against official sources

USPS Certified Mail with return receipt

Every letter reviewed before it mails

Indiana security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

45 days

Statute

Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 (return, deadline, written-address precondition); § 32-31-3-14 to -16 (damage list, forfeiture, remedy)

The landlord must return the deposit minus lawful deductions, itemized with the amount due in a written notice delivered not more than 45 days after termination of the rental agreement and delivery of possession (§ 32-31-3-12(a)); a parallel 45-day duty requires mailing an itemized damage list (with estimated repair cost per item) plus a check for the balance (§ 32-31-3-14). CRITICAL CONDITION: the landlord has NO liability under the chapter until the tenant supplies a WRITTEN mailing address for delivery of the notice and refund — a demand letter should supply that address explicitly. Failure to give the § 14 damage notice within 45 days is deemed agreement that no damages are due and requires immediate remittance of the FULL deposit (§ 32-31-3-15). Waivers of the chapter are void. No statutory cap on deposit amount.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Indiana?

Allowed

✓Accrued rent, rent in arrearage, and rent due for premature termination by the tenant
✓Actual damages to the rental unit or ancillary facility not resulting from ordinary wear and tear
✓Unpaid utility or sewer charges the tenant owes under the rental agreement

Not allowed

✗Ordinary wear and tear
✗Applying the deposit to rent, unless a written agreement stipulates it may serve as last month's rent

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Indiana?

NO damages multiplier exists — anyone asserting a 2x or 3x figure for Indiana is wrong. The remedy is recovery of all of the deposit due plus reasonable attorney's fees (§ 32-31-3-12(b)); for §§ 14–15 violations, the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs (§ 32-31-3-16).

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 Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 (return, deadline, written-address precondition); § 32-31-3-14 to -16 (damage list, forfeiture, remedy) 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.

Indiana tenant rights resources

HUD — tenant rights and resources
Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
Key statute: Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 (return, deadline, written-address precondition); § 32-31-3-14 to -16 (damage list, forfeiture, remedy) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-07.

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

Prefer it in writing?

We'll email you a free breakdown of what Indiana law says you're owed.

See what you're owed

FREE · 30 seconds

Your money is due back

45 days

Indiana law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.

If they wrongfully withhold

up to 3× your deposit

Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.

Ind. Code § 32-31-3-12 (return, deadline, written-address precondition); § 32-31-3-14 to -16 (damage list, forfeiture, remedy) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-07

Your 45 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 3× 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 5 states — 22 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.

You pay onceWe prepare & review your letterUSPS Certified to your landlordYou track it to their door

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.

One-time launch price

Recover

$39

Founding price — one time

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

See the full deposit demand letter guide →

Two minutes on what actually works

All videos →

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.