How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, a landlord has 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)) or 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address) to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)): after termination of a tenancy; 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address): after landlord receives written notification of tenant's forwarding address. The verified penalty formula is landlord liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid; if the only violation is failure to deliver accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the accrued interest, whichever is greater under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21.
Key facts
| Deadline | 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)); trigger: after termination of a tenancy |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address); trigger: after landlord receives written notification of tenant's forwarding address |
| Penalty formula | landlord liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid; if the only violation is failure to deliver accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the accrued interest, whichever is greater |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21 |
Statute says
Not later than twenty-one days after termination of a tenancy or fifteen days after receiving written notification of such tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later, each landlord other than a rent receiver shall deliver to the tenant or former tenant at such forwarding address either (A) the full amount of the security deposit paid by such tenant plus accrued interest, or (B) the balance of such security deposit and accrued interest after deduction for any damages suffered by such landlord by reason of such tenant's failure to comply with such tenant's obligations, together with a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of such damages. Any landlord who violates any provision of this subsection shall be liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid by such tenant, except that, if the only violation is the failure to deliver the accrued interest, such landlord shall be liable for ten dollars or twice the amount of the accrued interest, whichever is greater.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21.
FAQ
Does Bridgeport have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Connecticut law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the Connecticut deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is landlord liable for twice the amount of any security deposit paid; if the only violation is failure to deliver accrued interest, liability is $10 or twice the accrued interest, whichever is greater under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21. Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)) or 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address). The deadline trigger is 21 calendar days (ordinary path when tenant has provided forwarding address (or later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address, whichever is later)): after termination of a tenancy; 15 calendar days (applies when this later date is after the 21-day post-termination period; statutory rule is the later of 21 days after termination or 15 days after written forwarding address): after landlord receives written notification of tenant's forwarding address. A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send the letter that starts the clock and keeps the demand tied to the verified Connecticut deadline.
build a Connecticut demand letter
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.