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
Minnesota renters usually push back on carpet-cleaning deductions when the landlord appears to be charging for routine turnover rather than a tenant-caused problem. The timing, itemization, and bad-faith rules still matter even when the landlord says the carpet needed extra work.
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