The law in plain English
Return deadline
Under Minn. Stat. Sections 504B.151, 504B.175, 504B.178, 504B.182, 504B.195, the deposit response usually has to be sent within 21 days of the move-out timeline described by the state rule.
Required notice
Minnesota generally requires the refund or an itemized statement within 21 days after move-out or receipt of the forwarding address, whichever is later, and interest is due on the deposit.
This dispute type
Once the Minnesota deadline passes, the dispute stops being only about the deductions and becomes a deadline-compliance problem too. A landlord may still argue damage existed, but Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.151, 504B.175, 504B.178, 504B.182, 504B.195 sets the clock for returning the balance and explaining any amount withheld.
Penalty leverage
If the withholding was wrongful or in bad faith, the exposure allowed under the statute is: Liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus interest; bad faith adds punitive damages up to $500