Calculate Your Montana Deposit Deadline & Statutory Damages
Enter your move-out / key-surrender date and deposit amount to check whether your landlord is past the Montana statutory deadline under Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to 70-25-206.
Montana Security Deposit Law Quick Facts
| Governing Statute | Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to 70-25-206 |
|---|---|
| Return Deadline | 10 days (10 days if there are no deductions; 30 days if deductions are made (along with itemized list)) |
| Maximum Deposit Cap | No statutory cap |
| Bad-Faith / Late Penalty | Up to 2.0x — Amount wrongfully withheld plus an equal sum (2x total) and attorney's fees; landlord forfeits all deductions if 30-day list is missed |
| Small Claims Court Limit | $7,000 |
| Interest Required? | No |
| Walkthrough / Inspection | Yes — landlord must provide 24-hour cleaning deficiency notice before deducting cleaning charges |
Example: On a $1,800 deposit wrongfully withheld past the 10-day deadline in Montana, statutory provisions allow claims up to $3,600 (2.0x) in Small Claims Court (limit $7,000).
Landlord Missed the Deadline or Overcharging for Normal Wear?
Get the complete Keep the Deposit Recovery System: our 48-Hour Move-Out & Dispute Handbook, 7 Fill-in-the-Blank Statutory Demand Letters (citing Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to 70-25-206), the 50-State Reference Guide, and the Excel Prorated Depreciation Audit Workbook.
- Certified-mail demand templates for missed deadlines & itemized receipt requests
- HUD carpet, paint & appliance useful-life prorated deduction calculator (.xlsx + PDF)
- Room-by-room photo evidence log & small-claims preparation checklist
How to Dispute Unfair Carpet, Paint & Cleaning Deductions in Montana
Even when a Montana landlord mails an itemized list within 10 days, they cannot charge you for normal wear and tear or bill you 100% of the replacement cost for an aged asset that has already exhausted most of its useful life.
1. Useful-Life Proration
Standard apartment carpet depreciates over 5 years (60 months). If carpet was 4 years old at move-out, the maximum recoverable value is 20% — never a full replacement bill.
2. Statutory Demand Notice
Send a written demand via Certified Mail citing Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-25-201 to 70-25-206 and giving a firm 7-to-10 business day deadline before filing in Montana Small Claims Court.
3. Prorated Audit Calculator
Use our free Carpet & Paint Depreciation Calculator to calculate the exact legal deduction cap in seconds.