Guides › Rent and Deposits › Landlord Will Not Return My Deposit
Landlord Will Not Return My Deposit
In England, your landlord or agent must protect your deposit in an approved scheme within 30 days and give you the scheme information. Once you and your landlord agree the amount, the deposit must be returned within 10 days. If you disagree, it stays protected in the scheme, which offers free dispute resolution that is binding on both sides. If your deposit was not protected, you can claim in the county court.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Deposit
Your Deposit Must Be Protected
Your landlord or agent must put your deposit in an approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme) within 30 days of receiving it; this applies to assured periodic tenancies that replaced ASTs on 1 May 2026. source
Scheme Information
You must be given the scheme's information in writing within the same 30 days (prescribed information). source
Getting It Back
The deposit must be returned within 10 days of you and the landlord agreeing the amount; if you disagree, the deposit stays protected in the scheme until sorted out, and the scheme offers free dispute resolution that is binding on both sides. source
If It Was Not Protected
If the deposit is not protected, you can claim in the county court: the court can order the deposit to be returned or protected within 14 days and can also order up to 3 times the deposit as compensation (Housing Act 2004 regime as described by GOV.UK and Shelter). source
Fees and Deposit 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
- 10 daysLandlord must return the deposit once amount is agreedWithin 10 days of agreement
- 3 monthsRaising a dispute with an insurance-backed scheme (reported by mydeposits)Within 3 calendar months minus 1 day after you leave; check your scheme's current rules
- 14 daysCourt order for unprotected depositCourt may order repayment or protection within 14 days; compensation of up to 3 times the deposit
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check your deposit is protected: contact DPS, MyDeposits or the Tenancy Deposit Scheme with your details.
Step 2 of 5
Ask your landlord or agent in writing for your deposit back, and ask for a list of any deductions with evidence. Our free letter templates can write it for you.
Step 3 of 5
If you cannot agree on deductions, raise a dispute with the deposit scheme. Its dispute resolution is free.
Step 4 of 5
If your deposit was not protected within 30 days, or you were not given the scheme information, you can claim in the county court.
Step 5 of 5
Get free advice from Shelter England 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.
Deposit Scheme Dispute Resolution (DPS, MyDeposits or TDS)
Landlord and tenant cannot agree how much of the protected deposit is returned.
County Court Claim (Unprotected Deposit)
Deposit not protected within 30 days or prescribed information not given.
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. Rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are different.
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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/tenancy-deposit-protection 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
- gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/if-your-landlord-doesnt-protect-your-deposit Checked 12 October 2026
- 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
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026