Kansas · Security deposits · Updated Oct 2026

Kansas security deposit law

How much a landlord in Kansas 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 Kansas, the deposit limit is: One month's rent for an unfurnished unit; 1.5 months' rent if furnished. The landlord must return it as follows: If the landlord keeps part of the deposit, the rest must be returned within 14 days after the landlord figures the deductions, and never later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, you give back possession and you ask for it.

deposit limit
1 month's rent
to return a deposit
30 days
deposit penalty
Up to 1.5×

Security deposit in Kansas

Limit
One month's rent for an unfurnished unit; 1.5 months' rent if furnished. If pets are allowed, the landlord may also take a pet deposit of up to half a month's rent.
Deadline to return it
If the landlord keeps part of the deposit, the rest must be returned within 14 days after the landlord figures the deductions, and never later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, you give back possession and you ask for it. If you do not ask within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must mail what is due to your last known address. Do not use the deposit as your last month's rent unless the lease allows it: if you do, you lose the deposit and still owe the rent (K.S.A. 58-2550(d)).
Itemized list
Yes. Deductions must be itemized in a written notice delivered to you. Receipts are not required by the statute.
What may be deducted
Unpaid rent, and damages caused by your failure to meet your duties under K.S.A. 58-2555 and the lease (for example, damage beyond normal use, not keeping the unit clean and safe).
Interest
No. The statute does not require interest.
Move-in checklist
Yes. Within 5 days of move-in, you and the landlord must inspect the unit together and both sign a written record of its condition, furnishings and appliances. You get a copy. K.S.A. 58-2548.
If the landlord keeps it wrongly
If the landlord does not follow the return rules, you can recover the amount wrongly withheld plus damages of 1.5 times that amount.
Law
K.S.A. 58-2550, 58-2548

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 Kansas: If you do not ask within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must mail what is due to your last known address.
  3. Wait for the deadline: If the landlord keeps part of the deposit, the rest must be returned within 14 days after the landlord figures the deductions, and never later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, you give back possession and you ask for it.
  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: $10,000, not counting interest and costs (raised from $4,000 on July 1, 2024). Small claims court in Kansas on Small Claims Map

Deposit return calculator for Kansas

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 Kansas

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 Kansas

Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer. Limit: $10,000, not counting interest and costs (raised from $4,000 on July 1, 2024).

How to file in Kansas

Questions about security deposits in Kansas

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

One month's rent for an unfurnished unit; 1.5 months' rent if furnished. If pets are allowed, the landlord may also take a pet deposit of up to half a month's rent.

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

If the landlord keeps part of the deposit, the rest must be returned within 14 days after the landlord figures the deductions, and never later than 30 days after the tenancy ends, you give back possession and you ask for it. If you do not ask within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must mail what is due to your last known address. Do not use the deposit as your last month's rent unless the lease allows it: if you do, you lose the deposit and still owe the rent (K.S.A. 58-2550(d)).

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

If the landlord does not follow the return rules, you can recover the amount wrongly withheld plus damages of 1.5 times that amount.

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

Unpaid rent, and damages caused by your failure to meet your duties under K.S.A. 58-2555 and the lease (for example, damage beyond normal use, not keeping the unit clean and safe).

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

No. The statute does not require interest.

What is the small claims limit in Kansas?

$10,000, not counting interest and costs (raised from $4,000 on July 1, 2024).

More for Kansas renters

Security deposit in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.