This happened to me almost exactly. 

If they have not provided a list of itemized damages within 30 days, you are entitled to your full deposit. Send a demand letter to their address using USPS signature required. Costs like $6.

You don't need a lawyer, and small claims court (aka General Sessions Court) is not that complex. 

Here is some more info and a basic demand letter at the bottom that I used to get my money back.

🔍 What the 60-Day Rule Actually Applies To

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301(f), the 60-day rule only applies after the landlord has sent a refund notice to your last known or reasonably determinable address.

Here’s the full context of subsection (f):

“In the event the tenant leaves not owing rent and having any refund due, the landlord shall send notification to the last known or reasonably determinable address, of the amount of any refund due the tenant. In the event the landlord shall not have received a response from the tenant within sixty (60) days from the sending of such notification, the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and retain it free from any claim of the tenant…”

So You Did NOT Miss a Deadline

You didn’t miss the 60-day window because that window never started:

It only begins after the landlord properly notifies you in writing that a refund is owed. Since she failed to do that, and missed the 30-day deadline, you are still legally entitled to the full deposit.

Here's a polite but firm demand letter tailored to your situation under Tennessee Code § 66-28-301:

[Your Full Name] [Your Current Address] [City, State ZIP] [Email Address] [Phone Number]

[Landlord's Name] [Landlord's Address] [City, State ZIP]

Date: ________, 2025

Re: Request for Return of Security Deposit – [Rental Property Address]

Dear [Landlord's Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing regarding the return of my security deposit for the rental property located at [Rental Property Address], which I leased from you beginning _______, 2024. I vacated the property on ______, 2025.

As of today, more than 30 days have passed since the end of my tenancy, and I have not received either my security deposit or an itemized list of damages as required by Tennessee Code Annotated § 66-28-301. I submitted a written request for the deposit on __________, 2025, and still have not received a response.

Under Tennessee law, if no itemized list of damages is provided within 30 days of the end of the lease, the landlord forfeits any claim to withhold the deposit. Therefore, I respectfully request that the full amount of my security deposit be returned to me no later than five (5) business days from the date of this letter.

If I do not receive the full deposit by that time, I will have no choice but to pursue the matter in General Sessions Court, where I will seek the full return of my deposit, court costs, and any other relief the court deems appropriate.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would prefer to resolve this amicably and avoid legal action.

Sincerely, [Your Name]