How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Kansas?
In Kansas, a landlord has 14 calendar days (landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses/damages/other allowable charges other than rent; hard cap remains 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand) or 30 calendar days (outer maximum for return of any balance when landlord is retaining for non-rent charges; also the window for tenant to make demand) or 30 calendar days (if the tenant does not demand within 30 days after termination, landlord must mail the portion due to the tenant at the last known address) to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: 14 calendar days (landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses/damages/other allowable charges other than rent; hard cap remains 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand): after the determination of the amount of expenses, damages, or other charges (other than rent); 30 calendar days (outer maximum for return of any balance when landlord is retaining for non-rent charges; also the window for tenant to make demand): after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant; 30 calendar days (if the tenant does not demand within 30 days after termination, landlord must mail the portion due to the tenant at the last known address): after termination of the tenancy (no tenant demand). The verified penalty formula is tenant may recover the portion of the security deposit due together with damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550.
Key facts
| Deadline | 14 calendar days (landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses/damages/other allowable charges other than rent; hard cap remains 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand); trigger: after the determination of the amount of expenses, damages, or other charges (other than rent) |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 30 calendar days (outer maximum for return of any balance when landlord is retaining for non-rent charges; also the window for tenant to make demand); trigger: after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant |
| Deadline (branch 3) | 30 calendar days (if the tenant does not demand within 30 days after termination, landlord must mail the portion due to the tenant at the last known address); trigger: after termination of the tenancy (no tenant demand) |
| Penalty formula | tenant may recover the portion of the security deposit due together with damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550 |
Statute says
Upon termination of the tenancy, any security deposit held by the landlord may be applied to the payment of accrued rent and the amount of damages which the landlord has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with K.S.A. 58-2555, and amendments thereto, and the rental agreement, all as itemized by the landlord in a written notice delivered to the tenant. If the landlord proposes to retain any portion of the security deposit for expenses, damages or other legally allowable charges under the provisions of the rental agreement, other than rent, the landlord shall return the balance of the security deposit to the tenant within 14 days after the determination of the amount of such expenses, damages or other charges, but in no event to exceed 30 days after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession and demand by the tenant. If the tenant does not make such demand within 30 days after termination of the tenancy, the landlord shall mail that portion of the security deposit due the tenant to the tenant's last known address.
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 Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550.
FAQ
Does Wichita have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Kansas law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the Kansas deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is tenant may recover the portion of the security deposit due together with damages equal to 1.5 times the amount wrongfully withheld under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2550. 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 14 calendar days (landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses/damages/other allowable charges other than rent; hard cap remains 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand) or 30 calendar days (outer maximum for return of any balance when landlord is retaining for non-rent charges; also the window for tenant to make demand) or 30 calendar days (if the tenant does not demand within 30 days after termination, landlord must mail the portion due to the tenant at the last known address). The deadline trigger is 14 calendar days (landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses/damages/other allowable charges other than rent; hard cap remains 30 days after termination, delivery of possession, and demand): after the determination of the amount of expenses, damages, or other charges (other than rent); 30 calendar days (outer maximum for return of any balance when landlord is retaining for non-rent charges; also the window for tenant to make demand): after termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant; 30 calendar days (if the tenant does not demand within 30 days after termination, landlord must mail the portion due to the tenant at the last known address): after termination of the tenancy (no tenant demand). 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 Kansas deadline.
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.