Free interactive calculator
Security Deposit Refund Calculator
Check whether your landlord's deductions for painting, cleaning, and damage are fair based on how long you stayed. The calculator applies standard wear-and-tear benchmarks and shows the estimated unfair deduction amount you can dispute.
Your numbers
After 18 months of tenancy, allowable painting is ₹12,500 (50% of claim). Cleaning is capped at 1× rent (₹30,000). The rest is unfair.
- Painting — allowed vs claimed
- ₹12,500 / ₹25,000
- Cleaning — allowed vs claimed
- ₹8,000 / ₹8,000
- Damage — accepted if itemized proof exists
- ₹5,000
- Refund landlord already owes
- ₹1,42,000
- Total you can potentially recover
- ₹1,54,500
What to do: Deductions look reasonable. Still request itemized invoices in writing and confirm the refund timeline.
Get your custom landlord dispute letter — drop your rental agreement below to scan for illegal deduction clauses.
Scan my document freeWant the full clause-by-clause report?
This calculator uses the numbers you enter. For a real analysis of your actual contract wording (with negotiation drafts), upload the document.
Frequently asked questions
- How is 'fair' painting deduction calculated?
- Painting is a normal wear-and-tear cost after ~12 months of tenancy. A widely accepted benchmark is straight-line amortization to zero at 36 months — so after 18 months of tenancy the tenant should only bear ~50% of the painting cost, and after 36 months, 0%.
- Can the landlord deduct professional cleaning?
- Only up to a reasonable amount — typically capped at one month's rent. Anything above that shifts a landlord-side cost onto the tenant and is usually unenforceable if disputed.
- What counts as 'damage' vs wear-and-tear?
- Wear-and-tear (faded paint, minor scuffs, worn fittings from normal use) is the landlord's responsibility. Damage (broken fixtures, holes, burns) is deductible — but only with itemized invoices and photos, ideally referenced to a move-in inventory.
- What if the landlord refuses to refund?
- Send a written demand letter with the itemized breakdown and a deadline. If ignored, escalate to the local rent authority or consumer forum. Uploading the rental agreement here also flags illegal forfeiture clauses you can cite.