Quick answer: An Indiana landlord must mail an itemized list of damages, with a check or money order for the difference, not more than 45 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant delivers possession. The landlord is not liable until the tenant gives a mailing address in writing. A landlord that misses the 45 days must remit the full deposit.
This Indiana security deposit return deadline calculator applies IC 32-31-3-12 to 32-31-3-16. Enter the date possession was delivered and, if the tenant gave an address later, that date: it shows the 45-day deadline, the days left and what a landlord owes if it misses it. It does not decide whether a deduction is allowed.
Indiana security deposit return rules at a glance
| Rule | What Indiana says |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 45 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant delivers possession (IC 32-31-3-12) |
| Condition | The landlord is not liable until the tenant gives a mailing address in writing (32-31-3-12(a)) |
| What to send | An itemized list of damages with the estimated cost of each item and the lease terms, with a check or money order for the difference (32-31-3-14) |
| If it is late | The landlord is treated as agreeing no damages are due and must remit the full deposit (32-31-3-15) |
| Liability | The part withheld plus reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs (32-31-3-16) |
| Allowed uses | Actual damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, rent owed, a last-month agreement and unpaid utilities (32-31-3-13) |
| Waiver | A waiver of the chapter by landlord or tenant is void (32-31-3-17) |
| Local rules | Cities and counties may not regulate security deposits (32-31-1-20) |
How does the Indiana deposit return deadline work?
- The 45 days. See how long a landlord has to return a security deposit in Indiana.
- What can be kept, and the itemized list. See Indiana security deposit deductions.
- The mailing address, a sale and suing. See the Indiana forwarding address and small claims rules for deposits.
What does this deposit deadline calculator check?
The calculator adds 45 calendar days to the later of the day the tenant delivered possession and the day the tenant gave a mailing address in writing, which is how the Indiana Supreme Court has read the statute (Washmuth v. Wiles). The statute does not move a deadline that falls on a weekend or holiday, so the calculator does not either: mail early. It does not know when anything was mailed or whether the address was given in the form the statute requires, which is in writing. How much a landlord may collect is a separate question: see the Indiana security deposit limit calculator.
Related Indiana landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Indiana security deposit limit calculator for the most a landlord may ask for as a deposit, the Indiana eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end and the Indiana eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Indiana statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Indiana landlord have to return a security deposit?
Not more than 45 days after the rental agreement ends and the tenant delivers possession, by mailing an itemized list and the difference.
Does the tenant have to give an address?
Yes. The landlord is not liable until the tenant supplies a mailing address in writing.
What if the landlord does not send the list?
It is treated as agreeing that no damages are due and must remit the full deposit immediately.
What can a tenant recover?
The part of the deposit withheld plus reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, or all of the deposit due and fees under section 12(b).
Can a lease waive these rights?
No. A waiver of the chapter by landlord or tenant is void.
Does a weekend extend the deadline?
The statute does not say so; mail the list before the 45th day.