Landlord & tenant · Montana
the short answer
Your landlord has to send a written list of any damage and cleaning charges. Without that list, the landlord loses the right to keep money for either one. The ordinary deadline is 30 days, and it drops to 10 in a clean, fully paid-up move-out.
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governing statute
Mont. Code Ann. § 70-25-202
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deadline
30 days
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Across the country. 23 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as Montana. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →
penalty
No written list of damages and cleaning charges forfeits all right to withhold for them (§ 70-25-203). Wrongful withholding is worth the sum wrongfully withheld, and attorney fees may go to the prevailing party (§ 70-25-204).
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which court
Small claims court
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small claims limit
$7,000
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also
Ten days, not 30, where there is no damage, no cleaning required and no unpaid rent, and you can show the utilities are paid.
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your situation
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