You cleaned for twelve hours and filmed the walkthrough, and the landlord still kept the deposit.

Most renters give up here. They do not know their state's return deadline, they cannot tell which deductions are bluffs, and they have never written a demand letter. Landlords count on exactly that. Only a minority of renters recover their full deposit, and many who lose it never get an explanation.

Tenant Deposit Recovery runs the whole recovery pack:

Evidence capture checklist. A dated photo and video inventory to complete at move out, so every deduction can be answered with proof instead of memory.
Claim computation. What you paid versus what the landlord claimed, line by line, with the disputed total calculated for you.
State deadline math. A built in jurisdiction table (California 21 days, Texas 30 days, Florida 15/30/60 day rules, New Jersey 30 days, and more) computes the landlord's return deadline from your move out date and tells you what happens when they miss it.
Deduction classifier. Each disputed deduction is classified as likely wear and tear or chargeable damage using transparent keyword rules.
Demand letter generator. A formal, certified mail ready demand letter: the amount, the deadline, the statute, and the consequences, written in firm professional language.
Small claims prep sheet. If the letter does not work, a filing preparation sheet with your evidence list, calendar reminder dates, and the amounts to claim.

What makes this different:

It does the math, not just the pep talk. Deadlines, disputed totals, and reminder dates are computed from your facts, not left to you.
It classifies the deductions. Landlords pad itemized lists with normal wear and tear. This separates bluffs from legitimate charges before you write a word.
It carries you to court readiness. Most guides stop at the letter. This includes the filing prep sheet so the escalation path is ready if the letter fails.
It stays in its lane. Drafting and planning help only, never legal advice, with state tables that are clearly dated and a user supplied fallback for unlisted states.

How it works:

Capture evidence: complete the dated photo and video checklist at move out.
Enter your facts: deposit, move out date, state, and the landlord's deduction list.
Run the builder: the script computes deadlines, classifies deductions, and totals the dispute.
Review the letter: a formal demand letter with the correct statute and deadline.
Send and track: calendar reminders for follow up and filing prep.
Escalate if needed: the small claims prep sheet is ready to go.

Who it is for: Any renter whose landlord withheld part or all of a security deposit, or who is about to move out and wants to be ready. Especially valuable when the deduction list looks padded, when no explanation was given, or when the landlord is threatening collections.

What you get: A demand letter generator (Python script, no installs needed), a state return deadline table, a wear and tear classification guide, a move out evidence checklist, a small claims filing prep sheet, and calendar reminder dates computed from your move out date.