Tenant's Letter of Request for the Return of Security Deposit

This document is used by a tenant to request a refund of the security deposit they paid to the landlord during the lease period. The security deposit or caution fee is the sum a tenant pays at the beginning of the tenancy to cover the cost of repairs for any damage the tenant does on the property.

Usually, before a tenant takes possession of a rental property, the tenant must pay a security deposit or caution fee along with the rent, maintenance fee/service charge, and other charges. Under the law, the landlord is required to return the deposit only if, at the expiration or termination of the tenancy, the tenant does not destroy any part of the rental property, including the fixtures and fittings attached to the property.

The security deposit or caution fee is the sum a tenant pays at the beginning of the tenancy to cover the cost of repairs for any damage the tenant does on the property. It means that the landlord will not return the deposit if the tenant damages any part of the rented property. For example, if at the end of the lease, a tenant breaks a window or destroys other fittings, the landlord will withhold the deposit to replace the damaged appliance, and if the security deposit does not cover the entire cost of repairing or replacing the broken fitting, the tenant will pay the balance to the landlord.

Before returning the security deposit to the tenant, the landlord will inspect the rental property at the termination of the lease to ensure that the tenant did not destroy any part of the property. Therefore, the tenant must take precautions while using the landlord's property to ensure that they do not cause any damage to the property.

How to use this document

This document is used by a tenant whose tenancy has expired or terminated and who has complied with all his/her obligations as a tenant such as keeping the property in good condition during the term of the lease/tenancy.

It outlines the names and addresses of the tenant and the landlord and the security deposit or caution fee the tenant is requesting. The Tenant's Notice to Terminate Lease/Tenancy is also available for download.

After filling out this form, the tenant should sign this document and deliver it to the landlord. The tenant may be entitled to a full refund of the security deposit if, after inspection, no damage was done to the property. However, if the tenant destroyed any part of the property or the tenant did not keep the rental property in good condition, the landlord might use part of or the entire security deposit to repair the damage and give the tenant a detailed account of how the landlord used the deposit.

Applicable law

The Tenancy Laws of the various States in Nigeria apply to this document. The Lagos State Tenancy Law, 2011, applies to every part of Lagos State, excluding the following places: Ikoyi, Ikeja GRA, Victoria Island and Apapa. The Recovery of Premises Law applies to these exempted areas.

How to modify the template

You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions.

At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it.