Getting your deposit back

Your landlord must have good reason to keep some or all of your deposit when you leave. Find out how to resolve disputes and claim compensation.

How to resolve a deposit dispute

If you believe your deposit has been unfairly kept, the deposit protection scheme your landlord used will help you settle your dispute. Visit GOV.UK for more information about tenancy deposit protection. If you win your case, your landlord may have to pay for your court fees.

If you have videos of the property when you moved in and are moved out, you can use this as evidence if you have a problem getting your money back. You should also check the itinerary such as kitchen equipment, furniture, electricals, in your tenancy agreement. 

Visit Shelter’s website for advice on deposits and help with getting your deposit back.

How to claim compensation

If your landlord does not protect your deposit or provide written information about the deposit protection scheme, then you could claim compensation. 

You may not need a solicitor, but seeking legal advice could be helpful as claiming compensation can take a long time, and you may need to go to court. Here is how you claim compensation:

1. Check if your deposit was protected. Use the three deposit protection schemes below to search for your deposit. You could screenshot the search results.
   • Tenancy Deposit Scheme
   • Deposit Protection Service
   • MyDeposits
2. Gather your evidence. You’ll need to prove your landlord or agent failed to protect your security deposit or provide you with information about the scheme. A solicitor can help you check if your evidence helps your case. Evidence could include:
   • Your tenancy agreement which states a deposit is taken.
   • Bank statements showing your deposit payment.
   • Screenshots from the three deposit protection schemes.
   • Email threads with your landlord discussing your security deposit.
3. Send a letter before action. You should write a formal letter to your landlord or agent stating the issue and that you are seeking a refund or compensation. This gives your landlord a chance to resolve the dispute without going to court. You should provide your contact details in the letter and give the landlord or agent 14 days to respond. Shelter has a template letter before action you can use to help with your claim.
4. Apply to the County Court. If you have no response after 14 days, then you can apply to the county court. You must use the correct form and will need to pay the court fees. If you win your case, your landlord will pay for your court fees.
5. Attend court. You will be given a date to attend court, and you will need to submit your evidence. This will demonstrate that your landlord failed to protect your deposit or provide you with written information. The court will consider your case and decide if your landlord should pay you compensation. You can go to court without a solicitor, but it may be helpful to have one at this stage. 

Further information

Visit Shelter’s website for full guidance on making a tenancy deposit compensation claim.