If your landlord did not put your deposit in an official scheme within 30 days, you may be able to claim it back, plus extra compensation. Here is what to do.
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In short
Paid a deposit on a private tenancy? The landlord must put it in one of three official schemes within 30 days, and tell you which one. Where they have not, the courts can give the deposit back. Extra money can come too: one to three times the deposit. We do not take deposit cases; Citizens Advice does. For unsafe or unfit housing, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
What the law says
Since the Housing Act 2004, a private landlord taking a deposit must:
- Put it in one of the three official schemes within 30 days
- Give you the scheme's "prescribed information" saying where it sits
The three schemes are:
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme, TDS, at tenancydepositscheme.com
- Deposit Protection Service, DPS, at depositprotection.com
- mydeposits, at mydeposits.co.uk
Each scheme's website lets you check whether your deposit sits there.
What you can do if it isn't
- Ask the landlord, in writing, to protect it and send the prescribed information. Keep a copy.
- Nothing done? The county court can order the deposit back, plus one to three times its amount on top.
- An unprotected deposit also counts against the landlord in any possession case. Under the old rules it made Section 21 notices invalid. Section 21 is now gone. The failure still weakens a landlord seeking possession.
Who can help
- Citizens Advice, for free advice and template letters
- Shelter on 0808 800 4444, for urgent housing advice
- A solicitor, where a deposit claim runs complex
If your home is also in disrepair
Left with damp, mould, leaks or no heating? That part is us. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 28 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only, not a promise; every case is different.
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Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.