Up to $10,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In New York, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Part (City, Town, or Village Court), where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: New York generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $20 (Very low: about $15 for claims ≤$1,000 and $20 for $1,000–$5,000/$10,000.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: N.Y. Uniform City Court Act § 1801; UJCA § 1801; deadlines: N.Y. C.P.L.R. §§ 213, 214. Reviewed 2026-06-17.
Note on deadlines: Contract (written or oral) 6 yrs; property damage and personal injury 3 yrs.
Suing for something else in New York: New York unpaid loan · New York property damage · New York unpaid rent · New York contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: New Jersey ($5,000, 6 years) · Pennsylvania ($12,000, 4 years) · Connecticut ($5,000, 6 years) · Massachusetts ($7,000, 6 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026