Request a security-deposit refund or dispute deductions Housing & Rent Oregon preparation and procedure guide Source review: 2026-10-11 Scope: Shared Oregon or applicable federal procedure; confirm local requirements Document the move-out, request the accounting or refund, and review a small-claims route if the dispute remains. Who this route is for Oregon residential renters after move-out. Portland has additional rules for covered tenancies. Timing and notices The publisher describes a 31-day refund or accounting period after move-out. Check the current rule and any Portland-specific protection for your tenancy; court claim deadlines are separate. Prepare (conditional documents may have alternatives) [ ] Rental agreement and deposit receipt [ ] Move-in and move-out photographs [ ] Move-out date, key return and forwarding address records [ ] Landlord accounting and refund [ ] Written refund or deduction dispute and delivery record How to proceed 1. Keep photographs of the cleaned, empty home and proof of key return; give the landlord a reliable forwarding address. 2. Save any refund and itemized list of deductions and compare them with the deposit, rent records and condition evidence. 3. If the refund or accounting is missing, send a written request and keep a copy. 4. If deductions are disputed, explain in writing which charges you contest and why, attaching copies of supporting records. 5. If unresolved, read the linked Oregon small-claims instructions and seek advice about the amount, proof and filing court. Open current instructions: https://oregonlawhelp.org/topics/housing/rental-housing/moving-or-moving-out/getting-your-security-deposit-back-after-you-move Limits: Ordinary wear, actual damage and lawful deductions depend on evidence. The guide does not calculate damages or guarantee doubled recovery. The publisher article shows an older editorial review date, so confirm current law before filing. Publisher sources Getting Your Security Deposit Back After You Move | Oregon Law Help https://oregonlawhelp.org/topics/housing/rental-housing/moving-or-moving-out/getting-your-security-deposit-back-after-you-move Evidence type: publisher-html-snapshot SHA-256: cb028fc756234bc5cb5664917316f4be5cab5947e766301a563c73b401fc8b0d Oregon Judicial Department : Small Claims : Forms Center : State of Oregon https://www.courts.oregon.gov/forms/pages/small-claims.aspx Evidence type: publisher-html-snapshot SHA-256: a34cef3de9d973aa3a4efb86aad8048152b326cca702f00071ad4ebc3a712c65 This site helps you prepare. It does not submit filings, calculate personal deadlines, decide eligibility or replace professional review. A complaint or help request does not pause another case or deadline. Start here Keep photographs of the cleaned, empty home and proof of key return; give the landlord a reliable forwarding address. Where and how to submit Read the linked publisher instructions to confirm the receiving office, accepted submission method and current forms. This page has not separately verified those details. A county filter does not decide the correct court or filing location. https://oregonlawhelp.org/topics/housing/rental-housing/moving-or-moving-out/getting-your-security-deposit-back-after-you-move What will it cost? Fees and fee-waiver eligibility have not been separately verified for this route. Check the current provider instructions. For a court filing, ask the court about its fee-waiver or deferral forms. After submission Keep a copy of what you send and its confirmation or receipt. Ask the receiving office how to track it, when to expect a response and how it will request missing information. These follow-up details have not been separately verified for this route. Corrections, denials and appeals Read any returned filing, correction request or denial notice promptly. Ask the responsible office for the correction, review or appeal instructions and the deadline that applies to your notice. This guide does not verify a route-specific appeal process. Language, disability and offline help Ask the receiving office about language assistance, disability accommodations and an alternative to online submission. Available options have not been separately verified for this route.