I moved out of my apartment two months ago, and my landlord still hasn’t returned my security deposit. I gave him the required 30-day notice, left the place spotless, and even documented everything with photos. After the first month, I called to check in, and he said the refund was coming, but that he was waiting on his accountant to "finalize things." Then another month went by, and now he’s stopped responding to my messages. I’m starting to feel like I’m being strung along.

I’ve heard about sending a demand letter, but I’m unsure of the best approach. Should I send the letter first, or can I go straight to small claims court? I’m not even sure how to begin the legal process if it comes to that. I’ve also heard horror stories about how long these things can drag out. I recently had a bit of a financial cushion after winning some money on a bet, so I’m not as stressed about legal fees if I have to go that route, but I’d prefer not to spend more than I need to on this.

Has anyone else gone through this process with a landlord? What steps should I take to get my deposit back without wasting a ton of time or money? Any advice would help!