questions & answers

Question: I lived at 5920 W.Laurie Ln apt.222 for one year on section 8 and moved because they no longer excepted it I cleaned the apartment however did not take pictures and the la lord did not do a walk thru with me she just excepted the keys and said I would be receiving my deposit in 7 to 10 business days.l do have a witness that helped me clean the apartment.What should I do?

Answer: Under Arizona law (A.R.S. 33-1321(D)), a landlord is required to return a tenant’s security deposit within 14 days (excluding weekends and holidays) after the tenant has moved out. If a landlord intends to deduct any charges from the security deposit to cover costs that the landlord has incurred in (for example) repairing damage caused by the tenant beyond ordinary wear and tear, then an itemized list of those deductions must be sent to the tenant along with the remaining balance of the deposit. A landlord may not simply keep the deposit without explanation. It is always recommended that tenants deliver by hand or by registered or certified mail a formal letter to their landlords requesting the return of their security deposits and supplying their new mailing addresses. Under the article on this website entitled “Security Deposits” there is a link to a “Request for Return of Security Deposit” form that you may wish to refer to. If, after your former landlord receives your letter, he/she still refuses to return your deposit – which should be in full, given that the 14-day window for the landlord to make and justify any deductions has passed – and you decide to pursue legal action, proof that you sent such a letter to the landlord will be helpful.