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Michigan Legal Aid

Sample Letter: Disputing Deductions From Your Security Deposit

Use this letter as a guide to creating a letter disputing money withheld by your landlord from your security deposit.

(DATE)

Dear (Landlord's Name),

I am writing to dispute deductions taken from my security deposit.

  1. The holes in the walls from the pictures I hung are normal wear and tear.  Money for spackling cannot be taken from my security deposit.

  2. The charge for cleaning the rug is too high. I realize it was our fault for staining it.  However, you are charging too much. It should not cost more than $XXX.

Therefore, I believe that we are entitled to another $XXX returned from our deposit.  If we do not settle this, I am willing to go to Small Claims Court over this matter.

Sincerely,

Name(s)

Former tenants at: (previous address)
Current address:


For more information on writing sample letters to resolve problems with your landlord you can view other articles on this site: Sample Letter 1: Withholding Rent, Sample Letter 2: Demanding Repairs, Sample Letter 3: Demanding Return of Security Deposit, Sample Letter 4: Disputing A Late Fee, and Sample Letter 6: Negotiating A Rent Reduction as Compensation. 


To learn more about housing rights in Michigan and where to get help:    

Consult the Michigantenants.org website for local housing resources and tenant counseling services. 

Consult the Michiganlegalaid.org website for legal education articles and local service information.

If you received court papers or otherwise need free or low cost legal advice:

This article appears courtesy of the Michigan Tenants Counseling Program.