🏠 KANSAS · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Kansas
In Kansas, Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 1 month's rent. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: 1.5x.
The Kansas statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Kan. Stat. § 58-2550
A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit for an unfurnished dwelling unit in excess of one month’s periodic rent. Where the landlord proposes to retain any portion for expenses, damages or other legally allowable charges, the balance must be returned within 14 days after the amount of those charges is determined, and in no event more than 30 days after termination of the tenancy. Verified against primary statute text (ksrevisor.gov) 2026-08-26.
Read the Kansas source text →Kansas deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Kansas requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 1 month's rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | 1.5x |
| Governing statute | Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 |
null Every figure here was read from the Kansas statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Kansas
The 30 days clock in KansasKan. Stat. § 58-2550 sets Kansas's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy. null
Kansas caps the deposit at 1 month's rentA Kansas landlord may not demand more than 1 month's rent as a security deposit under Kan. Stat. § 58-2550. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Kansas requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in Kansas1.5x — that is the remedy Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Kansas, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Kansas the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Kansas small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (1.5x) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Kansas
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Kansas?
Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. null
What happens if my Kansas landlord misses the deadline?
1.5x. That remedy is written into Kan. Stat. § 58-2550 — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Kansas?
Kansas caps it at 1 month's rent under Kan. Stat. § 58-2550. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Kansas landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.