u/latintrpt

Good morning,

I'm looking for some advice regarding a security deposit issue.

I rented a house for the past three years, and my lease ended on May 31, 2026. My landlord and I agreed to complete the final move-out inspection on May 23, 2026. The landlord wasn't present during the inspection, but a family member conducted the walkthrough. At the end, I signed a checklist identifying the items they believed were damaged, as well as the areas that were in good condition.

One mistake on my part was that I didn't provide a forwarding address when I moved out.

On June 16, I emailed my landlord asking for an update on my security deposit, but I didn't receive a response. Then, on June 30, I sent another email that included my forwarding address and again asked about the status of the deposit. As of today, I still haven't received any response.

The house was located in Memphis, TN. I no longer reside in TN.

Given these circumstances, what would my next steps be? Does the fact that I didn't initially provide a forwarding address affect the landlord's obligation to return the deposit or provide an itemized list of deductions? At this point, should I send a demand letter, or is it time to consider filing in small claims court?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Good morning,

I'm looking for some advice regarding a security deposit issue.

I rented a house for the past three years, and my lease ended on May 31, 2026. My landlord and I agreed to complete the final move-out inspection on May 23, 2026. The landlord wasn't present during the inspection, but a family member conducted the walkthrough. At the end, I signed a checklist identifying the items they believed were damaged, as well as the areas that were in good condition.

One mistake on my part was that I didn't provide a forwarding address when I moved out.

On June 16, I emailed my landlord asking for an update on my security deposit, but I didn't receive a response. Then, on June 30, I sent another email that included my forwarding address and again asked about the status of the deposit. As of today, I still haven't received any response.

The house was located in Memphis, TN. I no longer reside in TN.

Given these circumstances, what would my next steps be? Does the fact that I didn't initially provide a forwarding address affect the landlord's obligation to return the deposit or provide an itemized list of deductions? At this point, should I send a demand letter, or is it time to consider filing in small claims court?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!