Jordan Avery
88 New Haven Road, Riverton, Illinois
August 29, 2026
Northgate Property Management
1200 Commerce Street, Suite 400, Riverton, Illinois
SENT VIA USPS CERTIFIED MAIL
RE: Demand for return of security deposit — 482 Maple Court, Apt 2B, Riverton, Illinois
Dear Northgate Property Management:
I was the tenant at 482 Maple Court, Apt 2B, Riverton, Illinois until June 20, 2026, on which date I surrendered the premises. I paid a security deposit of $1,500.00. To date, no portion of my deposit has been returned to me. I have received no itemized statement of deductions. The grounds given for withholding — alleged damage beyond normal wear and tear; cleaning charges — are disputed.
Under 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), a landlord in Illinois must return a tenant’s security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of lawful deductions, with the itemized statement due within 30 days and the refund within 45 days of termination (properties of 5 or more units). That period expired on August 4, 2026. To the extent any statutory period runs from receipt of a tenant’s forwarding address, this letter provides that address, and the applicable period runs from your receipt of it.
For the record: The unit was left clean, keys were returned on the move-out date, and two written follow-ups have gone unanswered.
My records of this tenancy include date-stamped photographs of the condition of the premises; the lease agreement; written correspondence with you or your agents. I am prepared to present these records in court if necessary.
Please be aware that under 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), a landlord who wrongfully withholds a security deposit may be held liable for up to 2 times the amount wrongfully withheld, together with attorney's fees and costs. On my deposit of $1,500.00, that exposure may substantially exceed the deposit itself.
This letter also serves as written notice of my forwarding address, stated above, for all purposes under 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act).
Accordingly, I demand payment of $1,500.00 within fourteen (14) days of the date of this letter, delivered to my address above. If I do not receive payment, I intend to pursue every remedy available to me under 765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act), including filing suit in small claims court, where I may seek the statutory damages described above, together with attorney's fees and costs where the statute allows.
I would prefer to resolve this without court involvement, and prompt payment will end the matter.
Sincerely,
Jordan Avery
Why each part is there
The certified-mail line
Signals the delivery is being documented — the record a small-claims judge wants to see.
The statute citation
765 ILCS 710/1 (Security Deposit Return Act) tells the landlord you know exactly which law governs — and that its clock has already run out.
The penalty paragraph
Bad-faith violations can make the landlord liable for twice the deposit plus attorney's fees and costs. Stating it plainly is usually what moves a landlord to settle.
The forwarding-address clause
Several statutes start (or restart) their clock at receipt of a written forwarding address — the letter closes that loophole itself.
The evidence recital
Listing photos, the lease, and correspondence tells the landlord a court case is already assembled — without a threat ever being made.
Want it with your facts, printed and sent USPS Certified for you? That's the $29 flat service.
Generate my Illinois letter — $29
Prefer to write your own for free? Genuinely fine — the official statute text is linked on the Illinois guide, and this sample shows the structure. What the service adds is your facts merged correctly, printing, certified mailing, delivery tracking, and the deadline watch.
