The small-claims kit
The small-claims kit: the full path to enforcing your deposit return — where to file, what it costs, the ceiling, the evidence checklist worth preparing, and a fill-in-yourself statement-of-claim draft.
This is not legal advice. DirBalak presents information about renters' rights from the statute — the decision and wording are yours.
This is general guidance from the law — not an opinion on your specific case, and not a promise of any outcome. Every case depends on the contract and the facts; for a material question, consult a lawyer.
How to file a small claim — step by step
A small claim is filed in the court covering where the defendant (the landlord) lives or runs their business, or where the act giving rise to the claim occurred — the rented apartment, usually the same city.
pending legal reviewkolzchut.org.il — הגשת תביעה קטנה (מקום הגשת התביעה) · he.wikipedia.org — תביעה קטנהThe filing fee is 1% of the claim amount, and in any case not less than ₪50. For a typical deposit claim that is roughly ₪50–₪400.
pending legal reviewkolzchut.org.il — הגשת תביעה קטנה (אגרה: 1% מסכום התביעה, מינימום 50 ש״ח)The small-claims ceiling is ≈₪39,900 as of 2026, linked to the Consumer Price Index and updated annually — verify the current ceiling before filing.
pending legal reviewkolzchut.org.il — הגשת תביעה קטנה · he.wikipedia.org — תביעה קטנה (תקרה צמודת מדד)In small claims the parties appear in person and are not represented by a lawyer — save exceptional cases the court permits.
pending legal reviewkolzchut.org.il — הגשת תביעה קטנה (ייצוג) · תקנות שיפוט בתביעות קטנות (סדרי דין), תשל״ז-1976A small-claims claimant is an individual, and must declare they have not filed more than five small claims in the same court in the year before filing. For a renter this is almost never a barrier.
pending legal reviewhe.wikipedia.org — תביעה קטנה · תקנות שיפוט בתביעות קטנות (סדרי דין), תשל״ז-1976After filing, the defendant (the landlord) must file a defence within 30 days of receiving the claim, and a hearing is then scheduled.
pending legal reviewkolzchut.org.il — הגשת תביעה קטנה (כתב הגנה תוך 30 יום)The landlord has no automatic right of appeal from a small-claims judgment — an appeal is only by permission of the district court, and for new cases the request for leave must be filed within 30 days.
pending legal reviewkolzchut.org.il — הגשת תביעה קטנה (רשות ערעור) · he.wikipedia.org — תביעה קטנה
The evidence checklist worth preparing
Practical preparation tips — not legal advice. The more orderly documentation you have, the easier the claim is to prove.
- Photograph the apartment on move-in day and on move-out day — documenting its condition is your strongest evidence against a damage claim.
- Keep receipts and transfer proofs — the deposit payment, rent, municipal tax, water, electricity, gas and building-committee dues.
- Keep communications in writing — requests, agreements and dates in messages you can present, not phone calls alone.
- Document the key handover — a handover confirmation, the exact date, and witnesses if possible.
- Keep a copy of the demand letter you sent and any reply — they show you tried to resolve before suing.
Your statement-of-claim draft
Statement-of-claim draft
pending legal reviewFill in the fields and the statement-of-claim draft builds itself. It stays on your device only — DirBalak stores and sends nothing. This is a draft for review, not legal advice.
The letter is still missing details — fill in the marked fields before sending.
This is not legal advice. DirBalak presents information about renters' rights from the statute — the decision and wording are yours.