Get your deposit (caução) back · Step 1 of 4
The contract
The date the contract ended or notice took effect. If it has not ended yet, give the expected date.
Why we ask
The deposit (caução) secures the obligations under the contract. You can only demand it back after the contract ends and the property is returned (Código Civil, art. 1038.º, alínea i), e art. 671.º, alínea c)).
Get your deposit (caução) back · Step 2 of 4
The amounts
Why we ask
Since 1 January 2023 the deposit cannot exceed two months' rent (Código Civil, art. 1076.º, n.º 2, as worded by Lei n.º 24-D/2022). Before that date the law set no limit. If you have already received part of it, only the part still missing counts — and interest runs only on that.
Get your deposit (caução) back · Step 3 of 4
The condition of the property
Why we ask
The landlord can only deduct what the contract secures: unpaid rent and damage beyond the wear of prudent use (Código Civil, arts. 1043.º e 1044.º). Without a move-in condition document, you are presumed to have received the property in good condition (art. 1043.º, n.º 2) — and that presumption works against you.
Get your deposit (caução) back · Step 4 of 4
The request
What counts is the date of receipt (delivery receipt, e-mail read, message answered), not the date sent.
Why we ask
The law sets no deadline for returning the deposit: you can demand it at any time (Código Civil, art. 777.º). The landlord is only in default (mora) after receiving the request (art. 805.º, n.º 1). If the amount is still to be determined — for example, the landlord presents justified damage — there may be no default until it is determined, unless the landlord is at fault (art. 805.º, n.º 3).
Your result
You can claim
€
Deposit paid, minus what you have already received and what you accept as owed. What the landlord claims without proof is not counted.
The deposit exceeds two months' rent. Since 1 January 2023 the legal limit is two months' rent (Código Civil, art. 1076.º, n.º 2). You can cite this limit in your request.
The deposit exceeds two months' rent. The two-month legal limit has applied since 1 January 2023 (Lei n.º 24-D/2022) and your contract is earlier: the law does not say whether the limit covers older contracts. You can use it as an argument, not as a certain rule.
The deposit has been returned
From what you said, no amount is missing. If the landlord deducted something you do not accept, change your answers and enter the amount you accept as owed.
You cannot demand the deposit yet
The deposit secures the contract until its end and until the property is returned. Prepare the handover now: photograph every room on the day, hand over the keys against a receipt and keep a copy of the move-in condition document.
You can demand it now — in writing
The law gives the landlord no deadline to return it, but it does not make you wait either: from the request the landlord is in default (Código Civil, arts. 777.º e 805.º). Send a written request with the amount, your IBAN and a reasonable deadline (for example, 10 days) and keep proof of receipt.
The landlord has been in default since
days in default
Since receiving your request, the landlord owes the amount plus legal interest of 4 % a year (Código Civil, arts. 805.º e 806.º; Portaria n.º 291/2003). Estimated interest to date: €.
Default counts from : the date the landlord received the request or, if the request was made before the property was handed back, the date the keys were handed back (Código Civil, arts. 805.º, n.º 1, e 1038.º, alínea i)).
A low estimate: calculated only on the amount still missing.
The amount is in dispute
When the amount is not yet determined, there may be no default until it is — unless the delay is the landlord's fault (Código Civil, art. 805.º, n.º 3). A refusal without justification is not enough to stop interest. Answer in writing point by point and ask for the supporting documents; normal wear is not damage (art. 1043.º, n.º 1).
Interest: depends on the amount being determined; we do not calculate it here.
Without a move-in condition document, the law presumes you received the property in good condition (Código Civil, art. 1043.º, n.º 2). Gather other evidence: dated photos, messages exchanged at move-in, witnesses.
If it is not returned
Up to 15 000 €: Julgado de Paz (justice of the peace court). No lawyer needed, the claim can be made in writing or orally, and it starts with mediation (Lei n.º 78/2001, arts. 8.º, 9.º, 38.º e 43.º). Costs: 70 € for the losing party; if agreement is reached in mediation, 25 € for each party (Portaria n.º 342/2019).
Alternative: injunção (payment order procedure), for money obligations under contracts up to 15 000 € (Decreto-Lei n.º 269/98, art. 1.º).
Note: if your contract is a standard-form contract (contrato de adesão), the Julgado de Paz may not be competent for the money claim (Lei n.º 78/2001, art. 9.º, n.º 1, alínea a)).
Above 15 000 €: ordinary court, with a lawyer.
RightNOW prices, not legal costs.
What happens next in the app →
Official sources
Consolidated texts from the Diário da República, with the date of the version consulted.
- Código Civil (Decreto-Lei n.º 47344/66) — art. 1076.º, n.º 2; art. 1076.º, n.º 1; art. 666.º, n.º 2; art. 671.º, alínea c); art. 777.º, n.º 1; art. 805.º, n.º 1; art. 805.º, n.º 3; art. 806.º, n.º 1; art. 1038.º, alínea i); art. 1043.º, n.º 1; art. 1043.º, n.º 2; art. 1044.º; art. 1073.º, n.º 2; art. 309.º; art. 12.º, n.º 2 ·
- Código Civil (Decreto-Lei n.º 47344/66) — art. 1041.º, n.º 1 ·
- Lei n.º 24-D/2022 — arts. 274.º e 284.º ·
- Lei n.º 31/2012 — Código Civil, art. 1076.º, n.º 2 (redação anterior a 2023) ·
- Lei n.º 6/2006 (NRAU) — art. 9.º, n.º 1; art. 9.º, n.º 3 ·
- Decreto-Lei n.º 160/2006 (redação do Decreto-Lei n.º 266-C/2012) — art. 3.º, n.º 2 ·
- Lei n.º 78/2001 (Julgados de Paz) — art. 8.º; art. 9.º, n.º 1, alínea a); art. 9.º, n.º 1, alínea g); art. 12.º, n.º 1; art. 38.º; art. 43.º, n.º 2; art. 43.º, n.º 8; art. 56.º, n.º 1 ·
- Portaria n.º 291/2003 — n.º 1.º · · Em vigor (DRE, 2026-10-12)
- Portaria n.º 342/2019 — arts. 2.º e 3.º, n.º 4 ·
- Decreto-Lei n.º 269/98 — art. 1.º ·
- Proposta de Lei n.º 103/XVII/1 — art. 2.º, al. h) · · aprovada na generalidade; não é lei
General information based on the legal texts. It does not replace legal advice on your contract.
Updated on
Change log
- 12 Oct 2026 — First version with official sources (RightNOW legal review).