deposit demand letter.pdf

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www.union.arizona.edu/offcampus   53
Sample letter #1
notice of Forwarding Address,  
Demand for Return of Security Deposit
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
I have vacated the dwelling unit at [rental address]  
as of [date of vacancy]. I am also returning the keys 
to the unit at this time.
This letter is to notify you of a forwarding address 
to which my security deposit and/or an itemized 
list of deductions may be sent. The check and/or 
list should arrive within 14 business days after the 
receipt of this notice, as required by the Arizona 
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act Section 
33-1321(D).
I request that you return my deposit to the  
following address:
[Your New Address]
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
Keys and notice received for landlord by:
Landlord or Agent 
Date
SaMPle letterS
Download editable Microsoft Word 
documents of these letters from 
the Off-Campus Housing website: 
www.union.arizona.edu/offcampus. 
The letters that follow contain citations to the 
Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act 
(A.R.S. Title 33, Chapter 10).
The excerpt of the Tenant Law on page 47 
is a good overview of the rights and obliga-
tions of tenants, however, The Office of the 
Arizona Secretary of State publishes the full 
text, so for this law, related statutes, and any 
changes, go to their web site, www.azsos.gov 
and look under “publications.” 
We encourage you to use these letters, how-
ever, for serious landlord issues, please con-
tact the attorney in Student Legal Services, 
located on the 3rd level of the Student Union 
Memorial Center. These services are provided 
free to registered students at The University 
of Arizona through student fees. Please make 
an appointment by calling 621-ASUA (2782).
The following pages 
contain samples of 
letters for you to use 
to communicate with 
your landlord. 
54  Off-Campus Housing Guide 2008
Sample letter #3
notice of a termination for a  
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
[Date*]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
I am writing to inform you that I intend to vacate  
the apartment/house at [address of rental unit] as  
of [date of vacancy].
I will be ready to deliver the premises and return 
the keys on [date you intend to return the keys]. I 
request that you notify me of the time and date the 
move-out inspection will take place so that I can be 
present.
Failure or refusal to inform me of the date and 
time you intend to inspect the premises will be a 
violation of A.R.S. Section 33-1321(c) and will be 
construed as acceptance of the premises in as good 
and clean a condition as originally received by 
tenant, normal wear and tear excepted.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
*Date must be at least 30 days prior to the date rent 
is to be next paid according to the rental agreement.
Sample letter #2
tenant’s Second Demand for Return  
of Security Deposit
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
It has been more than 14 business days since the 
end of my tenancy at the above referred address 
and my demand for the return of my/our secu-
rity deposit. During this period, you have neither 
returned my deposit, nor given me an itemized list 
of damages for which you might be withholding 
the deposit, as required by the Arizona Residential 
Landlord Tenant Act. The purpose of this letter is to 
inform you that unless you return my deposit within 
the next [number of days] days, I will take you to 
court and sue you for the amount of deposit plus 
damages, as provided for in A.R.S. 33-1321(e) of the 
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
I hope this will not be necessary.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
www.union.arizona.edu/offcampus   55
Sample letter #4
Self-Protection When Breaking a Lease
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
For the past [length of tenancy (months/years)] I 
have been living at [rental address].
Although my lease does not terminate until [lease 
termination date], it is necessary that I move earlier.
I therefore intend to vacate on [vacancy date].
I apologize for the inconvenience, but I am relying 
on you to mitigate damages as required by law. 
Under Arizona law, the landlord shall make a 
reasonable effort to re-rent the premises at a fair 
rental or accept this surrender as termination.
Because I wish to keep damages at a minimum, I am 
herewith including the names, addresses, and phone 
numbers of persons who have expressed an interest 
in renting this property on or about [vacancy date] 
at the same rent that I pay. I assume that you will 
find one of these potential tenants suitable, unless of 
course you already have potential tenants available 
to rent the apartment.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
Potential Tenants:
[Name, address and phone of potential tenant] 
[Name, address and phone of potential tenant] 
Sample letter #5
Seizure of Personal Belongings  
During occupancy*
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
On [date your belongings were taken], you took my 
personal belongings from the dwelling located at 
[address of the rental property] as follows:
I am writing to notify you that your act and reten-
tion of my property violates Arizona Law, A.R.S. 
Section 33-1372, which prohibits your seizure of my 
property. If you do not return all of my belongings 
immediately, it may be necessary for me to take 
legal action against you.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
[Your current address, if different from Rental Address]
*If your property was taken after you abandoned, 
this notice must be modified as per A.R.S. 33-1370 
(D-G). If it was taken after a writ of restitution 
(eviction order) was issued against you, it must be 
modified per A.R.S. 33-1368 (E). Talk to ASUA Legal 
Services for help. 520.621.ASUA.
56  Off-Campus Housing Guide 2008
Sample letter #7
tenant Demanding Maintenance:  
Self-Help Remedy
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
It has been over [length of tenancy (days/months)] 
since I began my tenancy at [rental address]. In this 
time, you have not made the requested repairs to 
my dwelling although I informed you [how you 
notified the landlord (verbally or in writing)] on 
[date you notified the landlord], of the need for 
several repairs. Since Arizona law upholds my 
right to expect that you will maintain the property 
in a fit and habitable condition and in reasonable 
repair, I take this opportunity to inform you in 
writing of the need for repairs. The needed repairs 
are listed below:
1. [repairs needed]
2. [repairs needed]
I hope you will take rapid action on these repair 
needs. If I do not receive a response from you 
within 10 days (or as promptly as conditions require 
in case of emergency), I will be forced by your 
inaction to cause the repair work to be done by a 
licensed contractor. I will then deduct from my rent 
the actual and reasonable cost of the work.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
Sample letter #6
Lock-out*
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
On [date of lockout], I was locked out of my 
dwelling located at [address of the rental property]. 
I am writing to notify you that you are in violation 
of Arizona law, A.R.S. 33-1367, which forbids such 
a lockout. Pursuant to A.R.S. 33-1367, you are liable 
for minimum statutory damages of two months rent 
or greater actual damages, if proved. Please remove 
the locks immediately or I will terminate the tenancy 
or take legal action to recover possession of the 
premises and seek damages in either case.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
[Your current address, if different from Rental Address]
*If “seizure of personal belongings during occu-
pancy” or “lockout” occurs, it is best to consult 
with the ASUA attorney (520.621.ASUA), a private 
attorney or the city attorney’s office or the Tucson 
Police Department before taking action.
www.union.arizona.edu/offcampus   57
Sample letter #8
Self-Help Remedy: completion
[Date]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
On [date you notified the landlord], I notified you 
of my intent to use the self-help remedy pursuant 
to A.R.S. Section 33-1363 of the Arizona Landlord 
Tenant Act if certain repairs were not made. After 
you failed to respond and make the repairs, I hired 
a licensed contractor to do the repairs and I paid the 
contractor. I have attached a copy of the bill marked 
paid which itemizes the work done. I have also 
attached a copy of the lien waiver filled out by the 
contractor.
I will be deducting from my next rental payment the 
amount paid to the licensed contractor for the actual 
and reasonable cost of the work.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
Sample letter #9
tenant Demanding  
Maintenance termination
[Date*]
To: 
[Landlord’s Name]
From: [Your Name]
Re: 
[Rental Address]
Dear [Landlord’s Name]:
It has been over [length of tenancy (days/months)] 
since I began my tenancy at [rental address]. In this 
time, you have not made the requested repairs to 
my dwelling although I informed you [how you noti-
fied the landlord (verbally or in writing)] on [date you 
notified the landlord] of the need for several repairs. 
Since Arizona law upholds my right to expect that 
you will maintain the property in a fit and habit-
able condition and in reasonable repair, I take this 
opportunity to inform you in writing of the need for 
repairs. The needed repairs are listed below:
1. [repairs needed]
2. [repairs needed]
I consider these unrepaired conditions a material 
noncompliance with the rental agreement; this is my 
notice to you of my intent to terminate my tenancy 
on [date you will vacate (at least 10 days from now)] 
unless you complete these repairs within 10 days 
as provided A.R.S. Section 33-1361 of the Arizona 
Landlord and Tenant Act.
I hope it will not be necessary for me to terminate 
the agreement and vacate the premises.
Sincerely,
Your Name 
Date
*Date must be at least 10 days prior from today.