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Security deposit calculator (New York)
The 14-day deadline, whether it has been forfeited, and what the landlord is exposed to.
GEN. OBLIG. LAW § 7-108(1-a)(e), (g)New York gives a landlord fourteen days after you move out to return your deposit with an itemized statement. Miss it, and under General Obligations Law § 7-108 the landlord forfeits the right to keep any of it; a willful violation adds punitive damages of up to twice the deposit. Enter your dates and the tool does the arithmetic.
Read this before you rely on it. This tool is general legal information about New York law, not legal advice about your situation. It uses simplified assumptions, it may not reflect the most recent changes in the law, and it cannot account for facts it does not ask about. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Hochman Law PC or Daniel Hochman, Esq., and the firm is not responsible for decisions made, deadlines missed, or letters sent in reliance on its output. Verify any number or date against the current statute or with an attorney before you act on it. Attorney Advertising; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Worth knowing
Applies to residential deposits statewide; the 14-day rule was extended to rent-stabilized units by 2025 legislation. Interest on deposits held by buildings of six or more units is a separate calculation: see the deposit interest calculator.
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Security deposit demand letter. $499 flatQuestions
Does the 14-day rule apply to every New York apartment?
It applies to residential tenancies statewide under GOL § 7-108 as amended in 2019, and 2025 legislation extended the return, forfeiture, and punitive provisions to rent-stabilized units. Commercial leases are different.
What counts as an itemized statement?
A written list of each deduction with its basis. A lump-sum 'cleaning and damage' charge with no itemization does not satisfy the statute.
Can the landlord deduct for normal wear and tear?
No. Only damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, and other charges the lease allows can be deducted, and each must be itemized.
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Reviewed by Daniel Hochman, Esq., New York Bar · Last updated August 2026 · About the attorney