French Phrase
C'est quand que je récupère ma caution ?
Meaning
The speaker is asking the landlord or property manager for the date on which the security deposit will be returned after the tenancy ends.
When to use
Use this sentence when you have moved out of a rented place and want to know when the landlord will refund your deposit. It is informal and works well in spoken conversation with someone you already know.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estquandquejerécupèremacaution?
C'est quand que
A colloquial way to ask "When is it that..."; in formal French you would say "Quand est‑ce que...".
Que after quand
The conjunction "que" links the interrogative "quand" to the clause; it is required in spoken French.
Récupérer
Means "to get back" or "to retrieve"; commonly used for money, documents, or deposits.
Caution (noun)
In the context of renting, "caution" is the security deposit, not a warning.
🗨In Conversation
C'est quand que je récupère ma caution ?
When will I get my deposit back?
Je devrais pouvoir la remettre d'ici deux semaines, après l'état des lieux.
I should be able to return it within two weeks, after the inventory check.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est quand je récupère ma caution ?
Missing the conjunction "que" after "quand"; the sentence sounds incomplete in spoken French.
C'est quand que je récupère ma caution
Leaving out the question mark makes it read like a statement rather than a question.
C'est quand que je récupère ma caution ?
"Caution" in French also means "warning"; in the rental context it specifically means "security deposit".
↔Alternatives
Quand est‑ce que je récupère ma caution ?
When do I get my deposit back?
À quel moment vais‑je récupérer ma caution ?
At what time will I retrieve my deposit?
Quand pourrai‑je récupérer ma caution ?
When will I be able to get my deposit back?
Cultural Tip
In France, a "caution" is usually equal to one month's rent and is held by the landlord until the end of the lease. The landlord must return it within a reasonable time (often 1‑2 weeks) after the tenant has vacated the premises and the "état des lieux" (move‑out inspection) shows no damage. Asking "C'est quand que..." is perfectly natural in a casual conversation, but in a formal email you might prefer "Pourriez‑vous me préciser la date de restitution de ma caution ?".