Tenancy deposit claims, where to go
We don't handle tenancy deposit disputes. Support for Tenants is regulated only for housing disrepair claims. The right (and free) routes for deposit disputes are below.
The three official deposit schemes (England and Wales)
By law your landlord must protect your deposit in one of these three government-approved schemes within 30 days of receiving it. Each scheme runs a free alternative dispute resolution service when you and the landlord disagree on deductions at the end of the tenancy.
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) at tds.co.uk
- MyDeposits at mydeposits.co.uk
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS) at depositprotection.com
If your deposit was never protected
If your landlord failed to put your deposit in a scheme within 30 days, you may be able to claim between one and three times the deposit as a penalty in the County Court. This is a separate process from a housing disrepair claim, which is what we handle.
What we do do
We focus on housing disrepair claims: damp, mould, leaks, broken heating, structural defects, electrical hazards. If that's why you came here, see start a claim or call 0800 030 4669.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 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.