Landlord & tenant · North Dakota
the short answer
Any part of your deposit held back without a reasonable reason is worth three times that amount, which is one of the stronger penalties in the country. The deadline is 30 days, counted from the lease ending and you handing back the keys.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.1
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
deadline
30 days
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
Across the country. 23 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as North Dakota. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →
penalty
Treble damages for any security deposit money withheld without reasonable justification.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
which court
Small claims court
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
small claims limit
$15,000
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
also
The 30 days run from termination of the lease and delivery of possession. The deposit is held in an interest-bearing account, though no interest is owed if you were there under nine months.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
Everything above is the law as it reaches everyone in North Dakota. What it means for you turns on facts only you have. Tell us what happened and we'll ask the same questions a lawyer would — about 90 seconds, free, and anonymous.
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