Guides › Rent and Deposits › Claiming Back a Banned Tenant Fee
Claiming Back a Banned Tenant Fee
In England, most fees charged by landlords and letting agents are banned (Tenant Fees Act 2019, as amended by the Renters' Rights Act). Deposits are capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks if annual rent is 50,000 pounds or more) and holding deposits at 1 week's rent. If you paid a banned fee, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal, or the council can require repayment.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Banned Fees and Caps
Banned Fees and Deposit Caps
Tenant Fees Act 2019 (as amended by the Renters' Rights Act): deposits capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks if annual rent is 50,000 pounds or more); holding deposit capped at 1 week's rent; most other fees are banned; landlords cannot require rent before the tenancy agreement is signed and cannot ask for more than 1 month's rent in advance. source
Claiming Back a Banned Fee
If you have paid a banned fee you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for losses, or the council (trading standards / weights and measures authority) can require repayment; first-offence penalties go up to 5,000 pounds and repeat breaches up to 30,000 pounds or prosecution. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 30 daysLandlord must protect the deposit and give scheme informationWithin 30 days of receiving the deposit
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
List every payment you made to the landlord or agent, with dates and receipts.
Step 2 of 4
Write to them asking for the banned fee back. Our free letter templates can write it for you.
Step 3 of 4
If they refuse, contact your council's trading standards team, or apply to the First-tier Tribunal.
Step 4 of 4
Get free advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
First-Tier Tribunal / Local Council Trading Standards (Tenant Fees)
You were charged a prohibited fee or an excessive deposit.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
This page covers England only.
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If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 12 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/publications/tenant-fees-act-amended-by-the-renters-rights-act-2025/tenant-fees-act-2019-statutory-guidance-for-enforcement-authorities Checked 12 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026