Free Delaware Security Deposit
Return Letter Template

Delaware Security Deposit Return Letter

When a tenancy ends, a Delaware landlord has a set time to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Here’s what Delaware’s statute says.

Delaware rules at a glance

Security deposits in Delaware

Delaware’s deposit cap turns on the length of the lease. For a rental agreement of one year or more, the security deposit can’t exceed one month’s rent. A month-to-month tenancy has no cap in its first year, but once it passes one year the landlord must return any amount above one month’s rent. These caps don’t apply to furnished rental units (§5514(a)).

• Pet deposit — A separate pet deposit is allowed but can’t exceed one month’s rent, whatever the lease length; animal damage is charged against it first. No pet deposit may be charged for a certified, trained support animal (§5514(i)).
• Escrow account — Every deposit must be held in an escrow account at a federally insured bank with an office in Delaware that accepts deposits (§5514(b)).
• Allowed deductions — Damage beyond normal wear and tear that ordinary cleaning and painting won’t fix, unpaid rent and late charges, and reasonable renovating and re-renting costs if the tenant leaves early (capped at one month’s rent when the tenant ends the lease early under §5314) (§5514(c)).
• 20-day return — Within 20 days after the lease ends the landlord must send an itemized list of damages with estimated repair costs and pay back the difference (§5514(e)–(f)).
• Penalty — Failing to return the deposit or the balance within 20 days entitles the tenant to double the amount wrongfully withheld (§5514(g)(1)).

Tenant protections you can’t waive

• No waiver clauses — A lease can’t make the tenant waive rights or remedies under the Landlord-Tenant Code or exculpate the landlord from liability. A landlord who tries to enforce a provision it knows is prohibited can owe the tenant three months’ rent plus court costs (§5301).
• No lockouts — Removing or excluding a tenant without a court order entitles the tenant to treble damages or three times the per-diem rent for the time locked out (§5313).
• No retaliation — A landlord can’t evict, raise rent or cut services because a tenant complained about code violations or joined a tenant organization; action within 90 days of such a complaint is presumed retaliatory (§5516).
• Fee and deposit caps — The 5% late-fee cap, the application-fee cap and the one-month deposit cap for leases of a year or more apply regardless of what the lease says (§§5501(d), 5514).

Delaware Security Deposit Return Letter FAQs

More Delaware landlord documents

• Delaware Residential Lease Agreement
• Delaware Eviction Notice
• Delaware Rent Increase Notice
• Delaware Notice to Vacate
• Delaware Application Approval Letter
• Delaware Application Denial Letter
• Delaware Background & Credit Check Authorization
• Delaware Rental Application
• Delaware Co-Signer Guarantor Agreement
• Delaware Bed Bug Addendum
• Delaware Mold & Mildew Addendum
• Delaware No-Smoking Addendum
• Delaware Parking & Storage Addendum
• Delaware HOA & Community Rules Addendum
• Delaware Crime-Free Housing Addendum
• Delaware Utilities & Services Addendum
• Delaware Early Termination Addendum
• Delaware Lease Extension Addendum
• Delaware Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
• Delaware Military Clause (SCRA)
• Delaware Pet Addendum
• Delaware Cash for Keys Agreement
• Delaware Mutual Lease Termination Agreement
• Delaware Lease Renewal Agreement
• Delaware Notice of Non-Renewal
• Delaware Late Rent Notice
• Delaware Lease Violation Notice
• Delaware Notice of Entry
• Delaware Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
• Delaware Rent Receipt
• Delaware Rent Verification Letter
• Delaware Tenant Welcome Letter
• Delaware Property Management Agreement
• Delaware Commercial Lease
• Delaware Rent-to-Own Agreement
• Delaware Short-Term Rental Agreement
• Delaware Room Rental Agreement
• Delaware Roommate Agreement
• Delaware Spanish Lease Agreement
• Delaware Sublease Agreement
• Delaware Lease Amendment

Security Deposit Return Letter in other states

• Alabama Security Deposit Return Letter
• Alaska Security Deposit Return Letter
• Arizona Security Deposit Return Letter
• Arkansas Security Deposit Return Letter
• California Security Deposit Return Letter
• Colorado Security Deposit Return Letter
• Connecticut Security Deposit Return Letter
• District of Columbia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Florida Security Deposit Return Letter
• Georgia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Hawaii Security Deposit Return Letter
• Idaho Security Deposit Return Letter
• Illinois Security Deposit Return Letter
• Indiana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Iowa Security Deposit Return Letter
• Kansas Security Deposit Return Letter
• Kentucky Security Deposit Return Letter
• Louisiana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Maine Security Deposit Return Letter
• Maryland Security Deposit Return Letter
• Massachusetts Security Deposit Return Letter
• Michigan Security Deposit Return Letter
• Minnesota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Mississippi Security Deposit Return Letter
• Missouri Security Deposit Return Letter
• Montana Security Deposit Return Letter
• Nebraska Security Deposit Return Letter
• Nevada Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Hampshire Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Jersey Security Deposit Return Letter
• New Mexico Security Deposit Return Letter
• New York Security Deposit Return Letter
• North Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
• North Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Ohio Security Deposit Return Letter
• Oklahoma Security Deposit Return Letter
• Oregon Security Deposit Return Letter
• Pennsylvania Security Deposit Return Letter
• Rhode Island Security Deposit Return Letter
• South Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
• South Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
• Tennessee Security Deposit Return Letter
• Texas Security Deposit Return Letter
• Utah Security Deposit Return Letter
• Vermont Security Deposit Return Letter
• Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Washington Security Deposit Return Letter
• West Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
• Wisconsin Security Deposit Return Letter
• Wyoming Security Deposit Return Letter