Use the relevant termination/surrender timeline for the tenancy.
The statement should identify the reason for retention; damage-based withholding ties into the damage-list process where applicable.
30-day deposit timeline
Enter the later relevant date for lease termination or surrender/acceptance of possession. The tool adds 30 calendar days.
Educational date calculation only. Disputes about the actual statutory trigger can change the deadline.
What to preserve
- Proof of the lease termination date.
- Proof of the date possession was surrendered or accepted.
- The move-out damage list, if the inspection provisions apply.
- The envelope or message showing when the refund/itemization was sent.
Do not assume every move-out date starts the clock the same way
Georgia’s statutory and agency wording uses termination and surrender/acceptance concepts. For a disputed timeline, identify the exact dates rather than relying only on the day keys were dropped off.
Sources
Official Georgia renter/landlord handbook covering security deposits, inspection procedures, refund timing and ordinary wear.
Current Georgia Code text mirrorO.C.G.A. § 44-7-34 — return and deductions ↗Current statutory text for 30-day return, written retention reasons and ordinary-wear exclusion. Cross-checked against official Georgia guidance.
Georgia Attorney General — Consumer EdRenting an Apartment or House ↗Official consumer guidance on deposits, move-out deductions and the 30-day refund framework.