Connecticut · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Connecticut security deposit law

How much a landlord in Connecticut can charge, the deadline to return a deposit, what may be deducted, the penalty for keeping it wrongly and how to get yours back.

Short answer

In Connecticut, the deposit limit is: Two months' rent. The landlord must return it as follows: Within 21 days after your tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord gets your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.

deposit limit
2 months' rent (with exceptions)
to return a deposit
21 days
deposit penalty
Up to 2×

Security deposit in Connecticut

Limit
Two months' rent. If you are 62 or older, one month's rent. If you turn 62 after paying more than one month, the landlord must return the extra if you ask.
Deadline to return it
Within 21 days after your tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord gets your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later. The landlord sends it to your forwarding address. Give your forwarding address in writing when you move out.
Itemized list
Yes. If the landlord keeps any part, they must send a written statement listing each deduction and its amount with the balance. The statute does not require receipts.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent or utility payments owed to the landlord, damage caused by your failure to meet your duties under § 47a-11 (beyond normal wear and tear), and the reasonable cost of changing locks under § 47a-7b if you did not pay it. Nothing noted on a move-in walk-through checklist may be deducted (§ 47a-7c). Move-in and move-out fees are banned (§ 47a-4d).
Interest
Yes. The landlord must pay interest at least at the rate set each year by the Banking Commissioner (0.49% for 2026). It is paid or credited to rent on each anniversary of your tenancy, and any accrued interest is due within 21 days after you move out. No interest is owed for a month when you were more than 10 days late with rent, unless the landlord charged a late fee.
Separate account
Yes. The landlord must put the whole deposit in an escrow account at a Connecticut bank right away. Within 30 days the landlord must tell you in writing how much is held and the name and address of the bank.
Move-in checklist
Yes, for leases signed on or after January 1, 2024: before you move in, the landlord must offer you a walk-through inspection. If you ask for it, you both fill out and sign the state Department of Housing checklist. The landlord cannot later take money from your deposit for anything listed on it. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-7c.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
A landlord who does not return the deposit and itemized list on time owes you twice the deposit. If the only problem is missing interest, the landlord owes $10 or twice the interest, whichever is more. You can also complain to the Banking Department.
Law
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21

Get your deposit back, step by step

  1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
  2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Connecticut: Within 21 days after your tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord gets your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.
  3. Wait for the deadline: Within 21 days after your tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord gets your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.
  4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
  5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $5,000 plus interest and costs. A tenant suing for a security deposit can get double the deposit even if that is over $5,000. Small claims court in Connecticut on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Connecticut

Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Enter your deposit and move-out dateThe result appears as you type.

An estimate from the dates you enter and the rule in our data, not legal advice. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business days, and we don't skip holidays.

Security deposit demand letter for Connecticut

A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.

Your letter is made in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.

The name on your lease or rent receipts.

We suggest 14 days.

One or two sentences. This text goes into the letter as written.

Small claims court in Connecticut

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $5,000 plus interest and costs. A tenant suing for a security deposit can get double the deposit even if that is over $5,000.

How to file in Connecticut

Questions about security deposits in Connecticut

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Connecticut?

Two months' rent. If you are 62 or older, one month's rent. If you turn 62 after paying more than one month, the landlord must return the extra if you ask.

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

Within 21 days after your tenancy ends, or within 15 days after the landlord gets your forwarding address in writing, whichever is later. The landlord sends it to your forwarding address. Give your forwarding address in writing when you move out.

What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Connecticut?

A landlord who does not return the deposit and itemized list on time owes you twice the deposit. If the only problem is missing interest, the landlord owes $10 or twice the interest, whichever is more. You can also complain to the Banking Department.

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

Unpaid rent or utility payments owed to the landlord, damage caused by your failure to meet your duties under § 47a-11 (beyond normal wear and tear), and the reasonable cost of changing locks under § 47a-7b if you did not pay it. Nothing noted on a move-in walk-through checklist may be deducted (§ 47a-7c). Move-in and move-out fees are banned (§ 47a-4d).

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Connecticut?

Yes. The landlord must pay interest at least at the rate set each year by the Banking Commissioner (0.49% for 2026). It is paid or credited to rent on each anniversary of your tenancy, and any accrued interest is due within 21 days after you move out. No interest is owed for a month when you were more than 10 days late with rent, unless the landlord charged a late fee.

What is the small claims limit in Connecticut?

$5,000 plus interest and costs. A tenant suing for a security deposit can get double the deposit even if that is over $5,000.

More for Connecticut renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.