My landlord has my security deposit
Nevada puts a hard clock on this: 30 days. Here's what that covers and what to do if the 30 days pass.
What to do first
1. Know the number. A landlord can't hold more than 3 months' rent as a
deposit, combined with anything else they call a deposit or bond (NRS 118A.242(1)).
2. After you move out, the clock starts. The landlord has 30 days after the
tenancy ends to mail or hand you an itemized written accounting and return whatever's left of
your deposit (NRS 118A.242(4)). Use the deadline calculator
with your move-out date to see exactly when that 30 days is up.
3. If 30 days pass with nothing, the law is on your side, not a judgment call.
A landlord who fails or refuses to return the remainder within 30 days owes you the entire
deposit back, plus up to the amount of the whole deposit again in damages, decided by the court
(NRS 118A.242(6)). That second amount depends on whether the landlord acted in good faith.
4. If you got an itemized accounting but disagree with it, write to the
landlord and keep a copy. NRS 118A.242 sets no deadline for that letter on a regular deposit.
If you bought a surety bond instead of paying a deposit, send your written dispute to the bond
company within 30 days of getting the accounting; then it can't report the claim to a credit
bureau unless it wins a judgment against you (NRS 118A.242(5)).
5. To collect, file in Small Claims if the amount is $10,000 or less — no
lawyer needed, and the judgment page covers what
happens after you win.
What counts as a deposit, and what a landlord can keep
Under NRS 118A.240, a security deposit is any payment meant to cover unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, or cleaning the unit. A landlord can only claim amounts "reasonably necessary" for those three things — not for routine wear, and not as a penalty.
Programs and help that apply
Civil Law Self-Help Center — Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis
Ave, 1st floor. Small claims forms and filing instructions, free. See
Suing in small claims court.
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada — free help if the amount
or the dispute is complicated, or if the landlord is retaliating.
Good to know
A written dispute letter needs just three things: the date you got the accounting, the specific line items you disagree with and why, and your forwarding address. Send it so you can prove it was sent (certified mail or an email with a timestamp). That proof helps you in small claims court.