Making a claim

What Is A Tenancy Deposit Claim?

It is a claim against a landlord who broke the deposit rules, and a court must award you one to three times your deposit.

Calculate What You Could Claim

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30 daysfor your landlord to protect it
1x to 3xyour deposit, if the rules were broken
6 yearsthe usual time limit to claim

In Short

A tenancy deposit claim is a claim against a landlord in England who did not protect your deposit within 30 days or did not give you the prescribed information. A court must award between one and three times the deposit, and can order it to be protected or returned. You can usually claim while living there or after moving out, generally within six years. A solicitor can make the claim on a no win, no fee basis.

Your Landlord Had Two Jobs

Protect Your DepositIn a government scheme (DPS, TDS or mydeposits) within 30 days.
Give You The PaperworkThe scheme details, called prescribed information, within 30 days.
Missing Either One, Or Doing It Late, Breaks The RulesEither breach is enough for a claim.

Claim Or Dispute? They Are Different

Deposit Claim
  • Landlord broke the protection rules
  • Goes to the county court
  • Award of 1x to 3x your deposit
Deposit Dispute
  • You disagree with deductions
  • Goes to the scheme's free service
  • About cleaning or damage costs
Why It Must Be ProtectedIf you and your landlord disagree at the end, a protected deposit sits with an independent scheme, which settles the dispute for free. Your money is safe even if the landlord goes bust.
Why The Law Was Brought InSince April 2007 the law has required it, to stop deposits being kept unfairly with nothing tenants could do about it.
Why You Can ClaimAn unprotected deposit leaves you with no protection and no free dispute service. The law treats that as serious, so a court must award 1x to 3x the deposit.

How A Claim Usually Runs

  1. Check The FactsScheme records and your documents show if, and when, it was protected.
  2. Letter To The LandlordA solicitor writes to them. Many claims settle at this stage.
  3. Court, If NeededIf they do not settle, your solicitor handles the court side.
  4. PaymentThe landlord usually has 14 days to pay what the court orders.

Moved Out? You Can Still Claim

Since 2012 the law lets former tenants claim too. Claims generally need to be made within six years. See claiming after you move out, or how much you could get.

Here's What You Get When Working With Us

Recommended

With Free Deposit Check
  • Full online deposit check and analysis
  • All three deposit schemes searched for you
  • Eligibility and time limits checked
  • Your whole case file prepared
  • Matched with our specialist solicitors
  • £387 court fee covered in your agreement
  • With you at every step
  • £0 up front and £0 if you lose (terms apply)
Claiming Yourself
  • Search each scheme yourself
  • Work out if you qualify
  • Gather and organise all the evidence
  • Write the letter to your landlord
  • Pay the £387 court fee up front (Help with Fees may cut it)
  • Present your case to the court
  • Chase your landlord for payment
  • All the risk and work is on you
Calculate What You Could Claim

If you win, the solicitor's success fee (up to 25% + VAT) comes out of your compensation. The solicitor pays us for the introduction, so you never pay us anything.

Quick Answers

What Is A Tenancy Deposit Claim?

An application to the county court under section 214 of the Housing Act 2004, by a tenant whose landlord did not protect the deposit or give the required information within 30 days.

How Much Can A Claim Be Worth?

If the court finds the rules were broken, it must order the landlord to pay between one and three times the deposit. It can also order the deposit itself to be repaid or protected.

Do I Need To Still Live There To Claim?

No. Since 2012 former tenants can claim too. Claims generally need to be brought within six years.

Is A Claim The Same As A Deposit Dispute?

No. A dispute is about deductions and goes to the scheme's free service. A claim is about the landlord breaking the protection rules and goes to court.

Will I Have To Go To Court?

A claim starts with a formal letter to your landlord, and some landlords settle at that stage. If a case does go to court, your solicitor handles it.

Keep Reading

Making a claimHow Much Could You Get?Read Making a claimDeposit Protected Late? You May Still ClaimRead Making a claimMoved Out? You Can Still ClaimRead
Sources

Last updated 15 October 2026. General information for tenants in England only (the rules differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Not legal advice.

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