How soon must I return the deposit once the tenant leaves?

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• Martin (Soycasero)Equipo SoycaseroSep 20, 2026

  The duty to return whatever balance is due arises when the tenancy ends. No particular calendar day appears in the statute. What does appear is the cost of delay: once a month has passed since the keys were handed over without the balance being returned, statutory interest starts running in the tenant's favour.

  That is article 36.4 of the Spanish tenancy act (LAU). The month is not the due date, it is the date from which delay starts costing money.

  In practice that leaves reasonable room to check the property and the final utility bills, but not to let the matter drift. Where part of the sum is disputed, the usual course is to return the undisputed part and set out the reasons for the rest in writing.

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