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Security Deposits · California Tenant Rights

Does my landlord have to give me receipts for repairs taken from my deposit?

Documentation the landlord must provide

In many cases, yes. When a landlord deducts for repairs or cleaning above a certain dollar amount, California law generally requires them to back up the charges with documentation — you should not have to just take their word for it.

Along with the itemized statement, a landlord is typically required to include receipts, invoices, or similar documentation for deductions over a set threshold, so you can verify the work was actually done and the cost was reasonable. If the landlord did the work themselves, they generally must still describe the work and the reasonable cost. Where a repair is not yet completed, a good-faith estimate may be provided, with actual documentation to follow.

The purpose is transparency: a landlord cannot lawfully take a large chunk of your deposit for "repairs" without showing what was repaired and what it cost.

If your landlord made significant deductions but did not provide receipts or documentation, that failure can strengthen your claim. Keep whatever they sent. A free, confidential review can help you understand whether the deductions were properly supported and what you can do.

This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.

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