The Albuquerque security deposit demand letter that gets deposits back.
Your Albuquerque landlord must act within 30 days after termination under N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18. If they missed it, the statute is written on your side. We cite the statute, mail your demand USPS Certified, and track the response.
The law that protects your deposit
Deposits in Albuquerque are governed by New Mexico state law: N.M. Stat. § 47-8-18. Noncompliance forfeits the landlord's right to withhold any portion of the deposit AND to assert any counterclaim in a suit to recover it, and makes the landlord liable for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. Full New Mexico deadline & penalty guide →
If the landlord ignores your letter
Deposit claims from Albuquerque are typically filed in the small-claims court serving Bernalillo County — designed for people without lawyers, with modest filing fees.
Albuquerque at a glance
Population ~560,000 (U.S. Census 2024 estimate, rounded). Every deposit dispute here runs on the same clock: the 30-day statutory window — and a certified letter is the documented first step.
General legal information, not legal advice. City-specific ordinances change; verify current rules or consult a licensed New Mexico attorney.