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Get your security deposit back in Rhode Island

Your landlord must act within 20 days after termination, return of keys, and forwarding-address request under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19. If they missed it, a statute-cited demand letter is the fastest first move.

20 days
to return or itemize
2×
potential damages on wrongful withholding
$29
letter + certified mail, one-time
Start my Rhode Island letter →

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What Rhode Island law says

Deadline to return / itemizewithin 20 days after termination, return of keys, and forwarding-address request
StatuteR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 — read the official text
Itemized deduction statementRequired if any portion is withheld
Exposure for wrongful withholdingWrongful withholding can make the landlord liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees.
Worth knowingDeposit capped at one month's rent.

This is general legal information about R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19, not legal advice about your situation. Statutes contain conditions and exceptions, and legislatures amend them — always check the official text linked above.

What that can mean in dollars

Example: $1,500 deposit wrongfully withheld in full → exposure of up to $3,000 plus attorney’s fees.

Most landlords understand this math, which is why a letter that cites R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 and states the deadline they missed is often enough to get a check without going to court.

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How your Rhode Island letter works

1. Answer a few questions

Your deposit amount, move-out date, landlord's address, and what happened. About 3 minutes.

2. We prepare the letter

A formal demand letter citing R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19, the 20-day deadline, and the remedies the statute provides.

3. We mail it certified

Printed and sent by USPS Certified Mail with tracking — your proof of delivery if this ends up in small claims court.

Start my letter — $29

Rhode Island deposit questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Rhode Island?
Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19, the landlord generally must act within 20 days after termination, return of keys, and forwarding-address request. If the landlord keeps any portion, an itemized written statement of deductions is required. This is general legal information — the statute contains conditions and exceptions.
What happens if my landlord misses the Rhode Island deadline?
Wrongful withholding can make the landlord liable for twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees. A written demand letter that cites R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19 puts the landlord on notice that you know the deadline has passed and what the statute allows you to pursue.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Rhode Island?
No. A demand letter is something any tenant can send on their own behalf. Our service prepares the letter from the facts you provide and the current text of R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-19, and mails it by USPS Certified Mail so you have proof of delivery. If your dispute is complex or high-value, talking to a licensed Rhode Island attorney is a sensible next step — many take deposit cases because several statutes shift attorney's fees to the landlord.