Can I send a legal notice to my landlord myself?

Yes. A written demand you send yourself is a valid notice, and many deposits are refunded at this stage. If it is ignored, a notice from an advocate carries more weight and is the usual step before going to court.

How many days should I give the landlord to refund?

Fifteen days is common and reasonable. Pick a deadline you are prepared to act on, and count it from the day the notice is delivered.

Should I send it by post or WhatsApp?

Both. Registered post with acknowledgement due, or Speed Post, gives you proof of delivery — keep the receipt and the tracking record. A copy by email or WhatsApp gets it read sooner.

What if I don’t have a rent agreement?

Leave the agreement date empty and the notice describes the tenancy as agreed between you. Keep proof of the deposit, such as a bank or UPI transfer.

What can the landlord still deduct?

Only genuine dues: unpaid rent, unpaid bills, and repairs for damage beyond normal wear and tear. If you accept a deduction, enter it and the notice asks only for the balance.

Is what I type stored anywhere?

No. The notice is built in your browser as you type. Printing it, saving it as a PDF or copying the text sends nothing anywhere, and closing the tab clears it.

Legal Notice for Security Deposit Refund

You and the landlord

Your full name

Your current address

Landlord’s full name

Landlord’s address

The tenancy

Address of the rented home

Rent agreement dateleave empty if there was none

Date you moved out and returned the keys

My rent and bills are paid up to the day I moved out

The deposit

Security deposit you paid

Deduction you accept as fairoptional

If you owe rent or bills, enter them here as a deduction you accept — the notice then asks only for the balance.

Days to refund

Refund tooptional — UPI ID or bank account

The notice is built in your browser as you type. Printing, saving or copying it sends nothing anywhere.

Notice for Refund of Security Deposit

Date: 2 October 2026

From:
[your name]
[your address]

To:
[landlord’s name]
[landlord’s address]

Subject: Refund of security deposit of Rs. 0/- for [address of the rented property]

Dear [landlord’s name],

I was your tenant at [address of the rented property], under a tenancy agreed between us. At the start of the tenancy I paid you a security deposit of Rs. 0/- (Rupees Zero only), refundable at the end of the tenancy.
I vacated the premises and handed back vacant possession, including all keys, on [date you moved out]. All rent and utility charges up to that date have been paid.
No amount is due from me towards rent, charges, or damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the full deposit of Rs. 0/- (Rupees Zero only) is due to me.
As of the date of this notice, the deposit has not been refunded.
I therefore call upon you to refund Rs. 0/- (Rupees Zero only) within 15 days of receiving this notice.
If the amount is not refunded within this time, I shall be constrained to take appropriate legal action to recover it, together with interest and costs, entirely at your risk as to costs and consequences.
I have kept a copy of this notice for my records.

Yours sincerely,

[your name]

How to send it

Sign it and send it by registered post with acknowledgement due, or by Speed Post. Keep the postal receipt and the tracking record — together they prove the landlord received it, and the deadline counts from that day. Send a copy by email or WhatsApp as well, so it's read sooner.

Only send it if every statement in it is true. If you owe something, enter it as a deduction you accept. Check what a landlord can deduct first.

If the deadline passes

A notice from an advocate is the usual next step, and it often settles things on its own. After that, you can approach the Rent Authority if your state has one, or file a civil suit for recovery. Your agreement, the deposit receipt or transfer, your move-out photos and this notice with its postal receipt are your evidence.

No written agreement? You can still claim it — see getting your deposit back without a rent agreement.

This is a template for your own notice, not legal advice. For a large amount or a complicated dispute, talk to a lawyer. Renting next? Search homes straight from owners.