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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Direct answer
If you pay a deposit on an assured shorthold tenancy, your landlord must put it in one of three official protection schemes within 30 days, and tell you which scheme they used. If they have not, you may be able to claim your deposit back plus compensation between one and three times the deposit through the courts. We do not handle deposit cases, but Citizens Advice does. For unsafe or unfit housing, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
What the law says
Since the Housing Act 2004, landlords renting on an assured shorthold tenancy must:
- Put your deposit in one of the three official schemes within 30 days.
- Give you the scheme's "prescribed information" telling you where it is.
The three schemes are:
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), at tenancydepositscheme.com
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS), at depositprotection.com
- mydeposits, at mydeposits.co.uk
You can check on each scheme's website to see whether your deposit is protected.
What you can do if it isn't
- Ask your landlord, in writing, to protect it and to send you the prescribed information. Keep a copy.
- If they do not, you can apply to your county court for your deposit back plus compensation between one and three times the deposit amount.
- A Section 21 eviction notice from your landlord is also not valid until the deposit is properly protected.
Who can help
- Citizens Advice for free advice and template letters.
- Shelter on 0808 800 4444 for urgent housing advice.
- A solicitor for a deposit-protection claim if your case is complex.
If your home is also in disrepair
If your landlord has left you 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 If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.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 and not guaranteed; 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.