Quick answer: A Delaware landlord has 20 days after the rental agreement ends to send an itemized list of damages with the estimated repair costs and pay back the rest of the deposit. A landlord that misses it can owe double the amount wrongfully withheld, if the tenant gave a forwarding address in writing.
This Delaware security deposit return deadline calculator applies 25 Del. C. 5514 and the counting rule in 5112. Enter the date the rental agreement ended and whether you gave a forwarding address in writing: it shows the deadline, the days left and the double-damages ceiling. It does not decide whether a deduction is allowed.
Delaware security deposit return rules at a glance
| Rule | What Delaware says |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 20 days after the termination or expiration of the rental agreement (25 Del. C. 5514(e), (f)) |
| What to send | An itemized list of damages with the estimated cost of repair for each, and payment of the difference (5514(f)) |
| No list | Failing to provide it is an acknowledgment that no payment for damages is due (5514(f)) |
| Penalty | Double the amount wrongfully withheld (5514(g)(1)); double the deposit if the landlord forfeits it by not disclosing where it is held or not escrowing it (5514(g)(2)) |
| Forwarding address | Notices and the refund go to the address in the rental agreement or a forwarding address given in writing at or before termination (5514(h)) |
| Objection | Accepting a payment sent with the list is agreement unless the tenant objects in writing within 10 days (5514(f)) |
| Escrow | The deposit must be in an escrow account in a federally insured bank with an office that accepts deposits in Delaware, and its location disclosed (5514(b)) |
| Counting days | The day of the event is not counted; a last day on a weekend or legal holiday moves to the next business day (5112) |
How does the Delaware deposit return deadline work?
- The 20 days. See how long a landlord has to return a security deposit in Delaware.
- What the landlord can deduct, and what it must list. See Delaware security deposit deductions.
- The forwarding address, escrow and objections. See the Delaware forwarding address and escrow rules for deposits.
What does this deposit deadline calculator check?
The calculator adds 20 calendar days to the date the rental agreement ended, and if the 20th day is a Saturday, a Sunday or a Delaware court holiday (the list on the Delaware Courts holiday schedule, which includes Good Friday and Election Day in even years) it moves to the next day that is not one. It does not know when anything was mailed. The cap on what a landlord may collect in the first place is a separate question: see the Delaware security deposit limit calculator.
Related Delaware landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Delaware security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit, the Delaware eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end and the Delaware eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Delaware statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Delaware?
20 days after the termination or expiration of the rental agreement, with an itemized list of damages and the estimated repair costs.
What if the landlord does not send an itemized list?
The statute treats the failure as an acknowledgment that no payment for damages is due.
What does a landlord owe if it is late?
Double the amount wrongfully withheld. A tenant who did not give a forwarding address in writing at or before termination cannot claim double, but can still claim the unused part of the deposit within a year.
Does a Delaware landlord have to pay interest on a deposit?
The statute we read does not require interest, but the deposit must be held in an escrow account in a federally insured bank that accepts deposits in Delaware.
Can I dispute the deductions?
Yes. Accepting a payment sent with the list is agreement unless you object in writing within 10 days of receiving it.
Where do I sue for a deposit?
A debt action in the Justice of the Peace Court, which hears claims up to $25,000.