A lessor of residential real property containing four (4) or more units, who has received a security deposit from a lessee to secure the payment of rent or to compensate for damage to the leased property may not withhold any part of that deposit as compensation for property damage unless he has, within thirty (30) days of the date that the lessee vacated the premises, furnished to the lessee, delivered in person or by mail directed to his last known address, an itemized statement of the damage allegedly caused to the premises and the estimated or actual cost for repairing or replacing each item on that statement, attaching the paid receipts, or copies thereof, for the repair or replacement. If estimated cost is given, the lessor shall furnish the lessee with paid receipts, or copies thereof, within thirty (30) days from the date the statement showing estimated cost was furnished to the lessee, as required by this section.
If no such statement and receipts, or copies thereof, are furnished to the lessee as required by this section, the lessor shall return the security deposit in full within forty five (45) days of the date that the lessee vacated the premises.
Upon a finding by a circuit court that a lessor has refused to supply the itemized statement required by this section, or has supplied such statement in bad faith, and has failed or refused to return the amount of the security deposit due within the time limits provided, the lessor shall be liable for an amount equal to twice the amount of the security deposit due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney fees. (Ord. 1990-0-9, 3-19-1990, eff. 6-1-1990; amd. Ord. 15-184, 11-2-2015, eff. 12-1-2015)