Landlord kept your deposit for repairs? Check what they charged.

1. Get the itemized list in writing

• Ask for an itemized statement of every deduction, and the invoices or receipts behind the repair lines.
• Many states set a deadline for the landlord to send it after you move out. Check your state's rules on its attorney general or consumer office site.
• Keep your lease, your move-in checklist, and photos or video from move-in and move-out.

2. Separate damage from normal wear and tear

Deposits generally cover damage beyond normal use, not the ordinary aging of a unit. Faded paint, light scuffs and carpet worn by years of walking are commonly treated as wear and tear; holes, stains and broken fixtures are commonly treated as damage. How your state draws the line is up to its law and courts, so treat this as a starting point, not advice.

3. Score the repair charges

Upload a photo or PDF of the itemized list or the contractor's invoice. QuoteScore scores it 0 to 100 against real quotes and regional pricing benchmarks, line by line, and names the lines that look high. Save the result page so you can quote its numbers in writing.

• Plumbing: 45% of 284 quotes we have scored came in overpriced.
• Painting: 33% of 123 quotes we have scored came in overpriced.
• Flooring: 37% of 73 quotes we have scored came in overpriced.
• Drywall: 35% of 69 quotes we have scored came in overpriced.

Live figures from our public dataset, the trades move-out charges usually fall in. These are quotes homeowners checked, not deposit deductions.

If the charges come back fair, that is worth knowing too, before you spend time on a dispute.

4. Dispute in writing

1. Name each charge you dispute, the amount, and why: wear and tear, not your damage, or priced above a fair range.
2. Ask for the specific amount back by a reasonable date, and keep a copy of what you sent.
3. If there is no answer, your state or local consumer office or a tenant rights group can tell you the next step. Find your consumer office on USA.gov or see HUD's tenant rights page. Small claims court handles deposit disputes in many places, usually without a lawyer.

Score my move-out charges

QuoteScore is a pricing check, not a lawyer, an appraiser or expert testimony. A score is an estimate from real quotes and benchmarks; a court or an agency decides what it is worth in your case. See also what to do if a contractor overcharged you.