New York Tenants
A professional demand letter citing New York's General Obligations Law § 7-108, the 14-day return deadline — one of the shortest in the country — and the 2× willful-violation penalty. Ready in minutes.
Deadline
14 days
to return your deposit after move-out
Penalty
up to 2×
for willful violation; forfeiture otherwise
Statute
§ 7-108
NY General Obligations Law
Under New York General Obligations Law § 7-108, your landlord has only 14 days from the date you vacate to return your security deposit or provide an itemized statement of any deductions. This is one of the shortest deadlines in the country.
New York's 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act significantly strengthened tenant protections:
So a $2,000 deposit willfully withheld can support a court judgment of up to $4,000. Most landlords return the deposit quickly once they realize the 14-day forfeiture rule has already been triggered.
Rent-stabilized carve-out (§ 7-107): Effective November 15, 2025, rent-stabilized tenants gained the 14-day return, itemization, and pre-move-out inspection/cure rights that previously applied more narrowly. Your letter applies these where your tenancy qualifies.
Interest and escrow: The separate interest-bearing-account requirement under § 7-103 applies statewide to buildings with six or more units — not only in New York City. A narrow exception exists for owner-occupied buildings with fewer than three units.
Housing types § 7-108 does not cover: The 14-day rules of § 7-108(1-a) do not apply to rent-controlled tenancies or to units in continuing-care retirement communities, assisted-living facilities, adult-care facilities, or certain senior residences for tenants 55 and older. If your unit is one of these, different rules govern your deposit.
Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes New York's deadlines under § 7-108.
[Date]
[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]
[Landlord's name and address]
RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]
I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.
Under § 7-108, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence New York law attaches, cited by section.]
I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Some cities layer their own security deposit rules on top of state law — and some don't. Here's where New York's major cities stand.
14 days after you move out.
A landlord who misses the 14-day deadline forfeits any right to retain the deposit; a willful violation exposes the landlord to punitive damages of up to twice the deposit under § 7-108(1-a).
New York General Obligations Law § 7-108 and New York General Obligations Law § 7-103. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
New York City has local ordinance rules on top of (or instead of) the state default.
Sources & verification
The New York rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
How we verify this →Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.
Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact New York statutes that apply to your situation.
New York General Obligations Law § 7-108, § 7-103 escrow rules, and rent-stabilization protections where applicable — not generic legalese.
The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.
Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
Most New York landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.
Generate my letter — $39