Note: the Model Tenancy Act, 2021 is a model law the Union Cabinet approved and circulated to states — it isn't automatically binding nationwide. States adopt it (in full, in part, or with modifications) or continue applying their own Rent Control Act. Check whether your state has adopted MTA-based rules; if not, your rights and the deposit cap may instead come from your state's existing tenancy legislation, not the figures below.
Know your baseline rights
- Security deposit is capped at 2 months' rent for residential tenancies
- You're entitled to a signed rent receipt for every payment you make
- The deposit should be returned at the time of vacating, after deducting only legitimate, agreed-upon dues
- If your landlord withholds the deposit without valid reason, you can approach the Rent Authority
Step 1: Document and request in writing
Keep every rent receipt and any record of the deposit payment (bank transfer proof works). Once you've vacated, message your landlord in writing — WhatsApp, SMS, or email — asking for the deposit back. These messages are admissible evidence and create a timestamped record of your request.
Step 2: Send a formal demand notice
If informal requests don't work, send a written notice stating: your tenancy period, the date you vacated, the deposit amount, the monthly rent it was calculated against, and any deductions the landlord has claimed. Demand refund of the deposit (or the undisputed balance, if some deductions are genuinely agreed) within 15 days of receipt.
Step 3: Approach the Rent Authority
If the landlord still doesn't pay within a reasonable period after vacating, you can file an application before the Rent Authority set up under the Model Tenancy Act framework in your state, or pursue the matter through the District Consumer Commission or civil proceedings for recovery of the amount.