Landlord kept your deposit? Build the packet a small-claims judge can actually work with.
California Civil Code §1950.5 sets the rules for how landlords handle deposits — and what you can ask the court to order if those rules weren't followed. We help you assemble your tenancy facts, evidence, and the relevant statute references into one filable PDF.
~15 minutes · See the full packet (watermarked) before you pay · Document assembly, not legal advice
Document assembly, like TurboTax for tax returns. We organize your facts; you decide what to do with the file.
We don't represent you, give legal advice, or sign anything as your attorney.
Review every word in a watermarked preview before you pay. Edit free for 7 days after.
The same statute that lets your landlord deduct also gives you specific things you can ask the court to order.
If any of these apply, the wizard will surface the matching provision in your packet:
- ·Your landlord kept all or part of your deposit
- ·More than 21 days passed before you got your deposit (or itemized statement) back
- ·The itemization didn't include receipts or estimates for charges over $125
- ·You weren't offered a move-out inspection before move-out day
- ·You were charged for cleaning or wear-and-tear you don't think the lease allows
- ·Your landlord collected more than one month's rent as a deposit (after July 2024)
Three steps, about fifteen minutes.
Tell us what happened
Tenancy dates, what the landlord charged, what you have. The wizard handles the format — you focus on what's true. Photos and receipts upload from your phone.
Review your packet
We assemble everything into one PDF: tenancy summary, itemized response to each charge, evidence as labeled exhibits, and the §1950.5 provisions that match your facts. You see the full packet (watermarked) before paying.
Download, send, or file
Pay $39 to unlock a clean packet plus a demand letter in your voice. Use it to negotiate, file in small claims, or hand to an attorney. Edit free for 7 days.
Two PDFs, one purchase.
Evidence Bundle (PDF)
- · Cover sheet with tenancy summary
- · Itemized response to each landlord charge — your position and supporting evidence
- · Photos and documents as labeled, dated exhibits
- · §1950.5 provisions that apply to your facts, quoted verbatim
- · Tenant statement template (notarization optional, not required for small claims)
Demand Letter (PDF)
- · Written in your voice, not a lawyer's
- · States the facts and the dollar amount you're asking the landlord to return
- · References the statute provisions that apply to your situation
- · Sets a response deadline before you escalate
One-time · $39
Most California deposit disputes range from $1,000 to $6,400 — the packet costs about 1–3% of what's typically at stake.
- · Full clean packet (no watermark)
- · Demand letter PDF
- · Unlimited edits and re-renders — no extra charge, ever
- · Your packet stays in your account for 12 months
No subscription. No surprises. Preview the full packet before you pay. It's a one-time purchase that funds the service. We're not selling your data to make this free.
~15 minutes · See the full packet (watermarked) before you pay
§1950.5 is one long, very specific statute.
Deposit cap, 21-day return window, move-out inspection right, itemization rules, bad-faith damages — all in one section. Generic "demand letter templates" online aren't tied to your tenancy dates, your charges, or your evidence. This tool maps your facts to the right subdivision and quotes the version of the statute that was in effect on your tenancy dates.
Recent changes — AB 12, AB 414, AB 2801 — updated how landlords must handle deposits in 2024–2026. The packet pulls the version of §1950.5 that was in effect during your tenancy.
The clock for filing in California small claims is generally 2 years from when your landlord broke the agreement, or 4 years if your lease is written. The packet keeps for 12 months in your account once you build it.
Questions tenants ask before they start.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a document-assembly tool. We don't represent you, we don't evaluate your situation as an attorney, and we don't tell you whether to file. We help you organize what you already know into a format the court can read.
Will this guarantee I get my deposit back?
No. Whether you recover anything depends on your landlord (if they settle) or the court (if you file). We help you present your side clearly — the outcome is yours.
Should I have an attorney review this?
That's your call. Most security-deposit disputes go through small claims, where tenants represent themselves — that's what small claims is for. If your situation is unusual, or you're past small-claims dollar limits ($12,500 in California), talking to a tenant-rights attorney first is reasonable.
What if my landlord ignores the demand letter?
You can file the packet in your county's small claims court. The format is built to be attached as your evidence. We don't file for you.
Can I edit my packet after I pay?
Yes — and as often as you want, no extra charge. The natural lifecycle of a deposit dispute is 21+ days (the landlord's statutory response window), and your situation may change during that time. After your $39 purchase, you can update facts, add evidence, fix typos, and re-render the PDFs as many times as you need — forever. No edit window, no regeneration fee.
Why $39?
It's the lowest price we could charge while keeping the service sustainable. No ads, no data sales, no upsells, no asterisks — $39 is the only thing you'll ever pay us per dispute.
Will my information be sold?
Never. We don't sell or share your data. Delete your account and we delete everything.
Why California only?
Every state's deposit law looks different, and a matcher that's wrong is worse than no matcher. We'll add states when we can do them well.
Done waiting on your landlord? Build the packet.
~15 minutes · No card needed to preview