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State deposit dispute guide

Arkansas Landlord Kept Security Deposit for Normal Wear and Tear

In Arkansas, a security-deposit dispute over normal wear and tear is usually about whether the landlord is shifting basic maintenance or aging costs onto the renter.

Deadline: 60 daysPenalty multiplier: Up to 2xItemized deductions: RequiredStatute: Ark. Code Sections 18-16-301 to 18-16-305

The law in plain English

Return deadline

Under Ark. Code Sections 18-16-301 to 18-16-305, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 60 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.

Required notice

Arkansas generally caps the deposit at 2 months' rent for covered landlords, though smaller landlords can fall outside that cap, and the landlord usually has 60 days to send the refund and itemized deductions.

This dispute type

In Arkansas, renters usually challenge deposit deductions for scuffs, faded paint, flattened carpet, and similar aging because those issues look more like ordinary use than repairable damage. The statute still controls when the refund had to be sent and how deductions had to be explained.

Penalty leverage

If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: You can recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees

FAQ

Common questions renters ask

What counts as normal wear and tear in Arkansas?

The term usually covers deterioration from ordinary living over time, not damage caused by neglect, abuse, or a specific accident.

Can a landlord repaint or replace flooring and bill the tenant anyway?

Renters often challenge that when the work appears to be part of standard turnover or the materials were already aged before move-out.

Why does the itemized statement matter here?

Because Ark. Code §§ 18-16-301 to 18-16-305 still requires the landlord to handle the refund and deduction notice correctly, even when the landlord claims the unit needed repairs.

What is the first evidence to gather?

Start with move-in and move-out photos, the lease, and any inspection checklist showing what condition already existed before the tenancy ended.

Keep reading

Free tier

Use the free intake before you escalate the dispute.

Compare your timeline, deduction notice, and the landlord's stated reason against the state-specific rule set first.

Not legal advice - jurisdiction-accurate legal research