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Understand the route. Prepare your documents. Follow the publisher’s next steps.
Request a security-deposit refund or dispute deductions
Oregon Law Help · Shared Oregon or applicable federal route
Document the move-out, request the accounting or refund, and review a small-claims route if the dispute remains.
Where and how to proceed: prepare, file and follow up
Start here: Keep photographs of the cleaned, empty home and proof of key return; give the landlord a reliable forwarding address.
1. Is this for me?
Oregon residential renters after move-out. Portland has additional rules for covered tenancies.
Service area: Oregon or applicable federal route; confirm venue and agency jurisdiction.
2. What should I prepare?
Some documents may be conditional. Ask about alternatives. Checkmarks are temporary and are not saved or sent.
3. Where and how do I 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.
- Keep photographs of the cleaned, empty home and proof of key return; give the landlord a reliable forwarding address.
- Save any refund and itemized list of deductions and compare them with the deposit, rent records and condition evidence.
- If the refund or accounting is missing, send a written request and keep a copy.
- If deductions are disputed, explain in writing which charges you contest and why, attaching copies of supporting records.
- If unresolved, read the linked Oregon small-claims instructions and seek advice about the amount, proof and filing court.
Timing: 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.
4. What will it cost?
Details to confirm with the provider
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.
5. What happens after I submit?
Details to confirm with the provider
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.
6. What if something goes wrong?
Details to confirm with the provider
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.
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.
Sources and review date
Guidance reviewed 2026-10-11. Read the current publisher instructions before acting.
Getting Your Security Deposit Back After You Move | Oregon Law Help · publisher html snapshot
Captured evidence SHA-256: cb028fc756234bc5cb5664917316f4be5cab5947e766301a563c73b401fc8b0d
Oregon Judicial Department : Small Claims : Forms Center : State of Oregon · publisher html snapshot
Captured evidence SHA-256: a34cef3de9d973aa3a4efb86aad8048152b326cca702f00071ad4ebc3a712c65
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