Did your apartment lease end and your landlord is delaying the return of your 1-month or 2-month security deposit?

Collect your move-out date, turnover inspection sheet or photos, and confirmed receipts of cleared electricity (Meralco) and water (Maynilad/Manila Water) bills. Paste the prompt below into ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. Send the formal polite letter to your former landlord or property manager via email, Viber, or registered letter with your GCash or bank account details. Before you use it: Fair wear and tear (e.g. minor paint fading, small pin holes) cannot legally be deducted from a tenant's deposit unless expressly stipulated in the signed contract.

Security deposit refund letter: sample for renters

Sample security deposit refund request

A polite, factual request after move-out. Attach only the records you actually have.

[Date]

[Landlord or property manager's name]
[Address or email]

Subject: Request for refund of security deposit — [unit or address]

Dear [Name]:

Our lease for [unit or address] ended on [move-out date], and I turned over the unit and keys on [turnover date].

Attached are [the turnover inspection sheet or photos] and [receipts showing the final electricity and water bills were paid].

I respectfully request the refund of my security deposit of ₱[amount]. If any deduction applies, may I please receive an itemized list with the receipts for each item.

The refund may be sent to [account name, bank or e-wallet, and account number].

Thank you, and I look forward to your reply by [a reasonable date].

Sincerely,

[Signature over printed name]
[Mobile number]

Check your signed contract for the refund period and any agreed deductions before you send it. Share bank details only with the landlord you already know, never in a public chat.

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Apartment keys on a blank folder in an empty room, shown in Pinoy AI Works artwork

What to do

Collect your move-out date, turnover inspection sheet or photos, and confirmed receipts of cleared electricity (Meralco) and water (Maynilad/Manila Water) bills.
Paste the prompt below into ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude.
Send the formal polite letter to your former landlord or property manager via email, Viber, or registered letter with your GCash or bank account details.

Try this prompt

Include lease end date, deposit amount, and proof of settled utility bills for quick turnaround.

Draft a calm security-deposit refund request using only my lease/payment facts. Do not invent legal rights, deadlines or deductions.

FACTS
Property/unit description: [GENERAL DESCRIPTION]
Move-in date: [DATE / TO CONFIRM]
Move-out/turnover date: [DATE / TO CONFIRM]
Deposit paid: ₱[AMOUNT]
Proof I have: [RECEIPT / LEASE / TRANSFER RECORD / OTHER]
Inspection/turnover facts: [FACTS / NONE]
Deductions landlord has actually stated: [ITEM + AMOUNT + REASON / NONE]
Amount already returned: ₱[AMOUNT / 0]
Prior communications/promises: [FACTS / NONE]
What I am requesting now: [REFUND / ITEMIZED DEDUCTIONS / STATUS / OTHER]

RULES
- Do not invent damage, deductions, lease terms, statutory deadlines, interest, penalties, legal violations or entitlement.
- Keep my factual record separate from any legal question.
- If the lease text is supplied, quote/paraphrase only the relevant clause and do not extend it beyond what it says.
- If a current Philippine legal rule is relevant, it must be checked from an authoritative source and distinguished from the contract facts.
- Do not threaten legal action unless I explicitly ask for neutral wording about seeking advice/remedies.
- Draft only; do not send or contact the landlord.

OUTPUT
1. Concise factual refund/status request.
2. Optional firmer follow-up that remains non-threatening.
3. Deposit reconciliation: paid | stated deductions | returned | unresolved amount, using supplied figures.
4. Evidence/checklist to keep.
5. “To confirm” contract/legal questions.

Before finishing, verify every amount, date, deduction and promise against my supplied facts.

See a sample result

Illustrative example. Your answer may differ.

Output: Professional letter citing the concluded lease on August 31, referencing the zero-balance Meralco receipt attached, and providing bank account details for deposit reimbursement.

Before you use it: Fair wear and tear (e.g. minor paint fading, small pin holes) cannot legally be deducted from a tenant's deposit unless expressly stipulated in the signed contract.

Philippine notes

Always take timestamped photos and video of the cleaned empty unit upon handover to prevent disputed damage claims.
If a landlord refuses without valid utility bills or damage breakdown, barangay conciliation (Lupong Tagapamayapa) is the required first legal remedy.

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