How long does a landlord in Maryland have to return a security deposit?
45 calendar days after you move out
In plain terms, the statute says
A landlord who withholds any part of the deposit without a reasonable basis is liable to the tenant for up to three times the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees, so the treble remedy does require a finding that the landlord had no reasonable basis rather than being strict. Separately, a landlord who fails to send the written list of damages within the statutory period forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages at all, and that forfeiture needs no such finding.
Read the law yourself
Where are you in this?
Have you moved out?
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord in Maryland have to return a security deposit?
Maryland: 45 calendar days after you move out.
What happens if a landlord in Maryland is late?
A landlord who withholds any part of the deposit without a reasonable basis is liable to the tenant for up to three times the amount withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees, so the treble remedy does require a finding that the landlord had no reasonable basis rather than being strict. Separately, a landlord who fails to send the written list of damages within the statutory period forfeits the right to withhold any part of the deposit for damages at all, and that forfeiture needs no such finding.
Where can I read Maryland's security-deposit law?
Maryland's rule is in Md. Code Ann., Real Prop. § 8-203. The link on this page goes to the official text, so you can read the section yourself rather than take our word for it.
No ads. We don't sell your data.