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Connecticut Security Deposit Law, in Plain English

21 / 15 daysReturn the deposit with interest or itemize damages — 21 days after termination or 15 after the forwarding address, whichever is later
2 months' rentThe cap — one month for tenants 62 or older
30 daysDeadline to tell the tenant in writing which Connecticut institution holds the escrow
0.49%The Banking Commissioner's 2026 interest rate, paid or credited annually
2x the depositThe penalty for failing to return or itemize on time

Two months' rent — one month at 62

A Connecticut landlord may not require more than two months' rent as a security deposit — reduced to one month for a tenant who is 62 or older. The definition carves out first month's rent paid in advance, key deposits, and special-equipment deposits; everything else collected as security counts.

Escrowed in Connecticut, earning the Commissioner's rate

The landlord must immediately place the entire deposit in an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution, and tell the tenant in writing within 30 days the name and address of the institution. A new owner inherits the account and the obligation.

The deposit earns interest at the rate the Banking Commissioner publishes each year — the average commercial-bank savings deposit rate, 0.49% for 2026. It's paid to the tenant, or credited toward rent, on each anniversary of the tenancy and at termination. One condition: no interest accrues for any month in which rent was more than 10 days late (unless a late charge was imposed instead).

The Department of Banking administers all of this — it publishes the rate, takes complaints, and can fine landlords up to $100 per violation for escrow and interest failures.

After move-out: 21 days — or 15 after the forwarding address, whichever is later

Not later than 21 days after termination, or 15 days after receiving written notice of the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is later, the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest — or deliver a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of any damages claimed.

A tenant who leaves without an address is still owed the money; the clock simply waits for the address. Send it in writing on move-out day.

Permitted deductions: damage the tenant caused beyond reasonable wear and tear, and unpaid rent or other obligations under the lease. Faded paint and normally worn carpet stay the landlord's cost.

Twenty-one days to itemize — and the whole deposit doubled if you miss. The record makes the statement easy.

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PropInspect is a documentation tool, not a compliance service or legal-advice product. Using PropInspect does not guarantee compliance with Connecticut law or a particular result in a deposit dispute.

When it goes wrong: double the deposit — and the small claims cap doesn't apply

A landlord who fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement on time is liable for twice the amount of the security deposit paid by the tenant — the whole deposit, not just the portion withheld. If only the interest was withheld, the penalty is the greater of $10 or twice the accrued interest.

Connecticut then closes the loophole that neuters this remedy elsewhere. The small claims limit is $5,000, but under § 51-15 a tenant suing in small claims to reclaim a deposit may be awarded the full § 47a-21(d) damages and costs notwithstanding the jurisdictional limit. A doubled deposit above $5,000 can still be pursued without a lawyer.

The winning file: the lease, the escrow notice or proof it never came, the written forwarding address, the itemized statement, the interest history, and dated room-by-room photos from both ends of the tenancy.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Connecticut?

Not later than 21 days after the tenancy ends, or 15 days after the landlord receives written notice of your forwarding address — whichever is later. Within that window the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, or give you a written statement itemizing the nature and amount of any damages claimed. Send the forwarding address in writing on move-out day.

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Connecticut?

No more than two months' rent — or one month's rent if you're 62 or older. First month's rent paid in advance, key deposits, and special-equipment deposits don't count as security deposits.

Where does my deposit have to be kept, and do I get interest?

In an escrow account at a Connecticut financial institution, deposited immediately, with written notice to you within 30 days of where it's held. You earn interest at the rate the Banking Commissioner publishes each year — 0.49% for 2026 — paid or credited to rent on each anniversary of your tenancy and when you leave. You forfeit interest for any month you paid rent more than 10 days late.

What can a landlord deduct from a deposit in Connecticut?

Damage you caused beyond reasonable wear and tear, and unpaid rent or other amounts you owed under the lease — each itemized by nature and amount in the written statement. Ordinary aging of paint, carpet, and fixtures isn't deductible.

What happens if the landlord misses the deadline or wrongfully keeps money?

The landlord is liable for twice the amount of the security deposit you paid — not just twice the amount withheld. If the landlord returned the deposit but skipped the interest, the penalty is the greater of $10 or twice the accrued interest.

Can I complain to the state instead of suing?

Yes. The Connecticut Department of Banking administers § 47a-21, publishes the annual interest rate, and accepts complaints about escrow and interest violations; landlords face fines of up to $100 per violation. For the double-deposit remedy itself, you file in court.

Does the small claims limit cap what I can recover?

Not for deposits. Connecticut's small claims limit is $5,000, but § 51-15 lets the court award a tenant the full § 47a-21(d) damages and costs in a security deposit case notwithstanding that limit — so a doubled deposit above $5,000 can still be pursued in small claims.

Where do deposit disputes go in Connecticut?

The Superior Court's small claims session (Centralized Small Claims) or the Housing Session — informal and inexpensive. Bring the lease, the escrow notice or proof none arrived, your written forwarding address, the itemized statement, and dated move-in and move-out photos.

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