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What New Jersey’s deposit statute requires, the deadline computed from your dates, and a ready-to-send demand letter that quotes the rule.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1. The citation and the quoted fragments below come from the official source recorded for this state.
“Within 30 days after the termination of the tenant's lease or licensee's agreement, the owner or lessee shall return by personal delivery, registered or certified mail the sum so deposited plus the tenant's portion of the interest or earnings accumulated thereon, less any charges expended in accordance with the terms of a contract, lease, or agreement, to the tenant or licensee”
“The interest or earnings and any such deductions shall be itemized and the tenant, licensee, executor, administrator or surviving spouse notified thereof by personal delivery, registered or certified mail.”
“the court upon finding for the tenant, licensee, executor, administrator or surviving spouse shall award recovery of double the amount of said moneys, together with full costs of any action and, in the court's discretion, reasonable attorney's fees.”
“An owner or lessee of a tenant on whose behalf deposits were made by a State entity and who has willfully and intentionally withheld such deposits in violation of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than $500 or more than $2,000 for each offense.”
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 — fragments captured from the official source on 2026-11-05.
This row was marked verified on 2026-11-04.
Within 30 days after the lease or license agreement terminates the owner must return the deposit plus the tenant's portion of interest or earnings, less charges expended under the contract, lease or agreement, with the interest/earnings and every deduction itemized and notified to the tenant by personal delivery, registered or certified mail; for a displaced tenant the net sum must be available for return on demand for 30 days at a location in the same municipality, and no deductions may be made from the deposit of a tenant who remains in possession.
If if the court finds for the tenant, the statute provides for 2× the moneys due to the tenant, plus attorney’s fees in the court’s discretion and court costs.
On a finding for the tenant the court shall award double the moneys due plus full costs of any action and, in its discretion, reasonable attorney's fees. Separately, willful and intentional withholding of a deposit made by or on behalf of a tenant receiving State or federal financial assistance carries a civil penalty of $500 to $2,000 per offense, imposed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Attorney General or the funding State entity.
The form asks for the deposit paid, the amount returned, and the dates. You see the whole letter, watermarked, before you pay. $9.99 for the letter, $19.99 for the pack with the follow-up letter, complaint options and the small-claims checklist.
Build my New Jersey letter — free preview
The deadline is computed from the dates you enter using the rule recorded for New Jersey: 30 calendar days after the date the tenancy ended.
Where the statute has a verified penalty, the letter states it as possible exposure and names the condition the statute sets. If if the court finds for the tenant, the statute provides for 2× the moneys due to the tenant, plus attorney’s fees in the court’s discretion and court costs.
Tell the builder that you received one. The letter acknowledges it and disputes the amounts you say are wrong.
No. It is a self-help document tool, not a law firm. If your claim is large or disputed, speak to a landlord-tenant lawyer or legal aid.