Tenancy deposit claims: A complete guide for tenants

At Willans our experienced lawyers provide specialist advice and expertise on claims relating to tenancy deposits to help tenants with recovering compensation owed to them.

In this guide we answer some questions commonly asked by tenants as well as take you through the process of how we can help if you are faced with a deposit protection scheme dispute.

Our lawyers have many years’ experience in making tenancy deposit compensation claims and in some cases can act on a no-win, no-fee basis. The right guidance will increase your likelihood of making a successful claim and recovering your deposit and any further compensation owing to you, in a timely and cost-effective way.

Need help with a tenancy deposit claim? Contact us for clear guidance.

Frequently-asked questions about tenancy deposit claims:

Click on the links below to jump to the different questions.

• Does my landlord need to protect my deposit?
• How do I dispute a deposit from my landlord?
• What is the process for making a tenancy deposit claim?
• What if my landlord doesn’t return my deposit?
• How do I get my deposit back?
• My landlord did not provide any ‘prescribed information’, what do I do?
• Can I claim if I moved out of the property some time ago?
• I have been in the same property for a number of years and have renewed my tenancy, how does that impact my claim?
• Can a landlord ask for more money after I’ve moved out?
• Steps we take to help you with a tenancy deposit claim.

Continue reading to find out more, or contact us using the button below if you require advice.

Does my landlord need to protect my deposit?

If you occupy a property under an assured shorthold tenancy and you paid a deposit to your landlord, then they are obligated to protect your deposit within a compliant  tenancy deposit protection scheme.

If this is not done, or is done incorrectly (such as providing the wrong ‘prescribed information’ or none at all), or is done late (not within 30 days of receiving your deposit from you), then your landlord is likely to be in breach of their deposit protection obligations.

An assured shorthold tenancy is the most commonly used tenancy by private landlords or letting agents. If you are in doubt as to the type of tenancy agreement you have, it is best to check your contract.

If you think that your landlord may have breached their legal obligations, speak to our lawyers for help.

How do I dispute a deposit from my landlord?

In the event that your landlord has failed to protect your deposit, or if your deposit hasn’t been suitably protected, you may be entitled to the full return of the deposit, as well as compensation of up to three times the value of your deposit.

Our lawyers are specialists in landlord and tenant disputes and have extensive experience in advising tenants on recovering their deposit and further compensation owing. If you think that you may have a claim against your landlord due to their failure to protect your deposit then in most cases we can help and offer an initial no-obligation consultation to discuss your situation.

Need help resolving a dispute? Get in touch with our experienced lawyers for support.

What is the process for making a tenancy deposit claim?

We have put together a step-by-step guide in the infographic below which outlines the process for tenants to follow if they are seeking to recover their deposit as well as any further compensation they may be entitled to.

It starts with a ’cause’ – then moves to the ‘review stage’ where legal experts are best placed to advise on whether you have a claim – the next stage involves trying to ‘recover’ the money from your landlord or relevant tenancy deposit scheme – if the previous steps were unsuccessful at resolving the dispute, then a claim will be brought – the final step involves the court’s decision (an ‘order’) and acting on that order to reach a solution. If the court agrees that your landlord hasn’t followed the correct procedure, it will order your landlord to return your deposit to you or into a relevant tenancy deposit scheme within 14 days, as well as tell your landlord to pay compensation of up to 3 times the amount of your deposit.

Want to get started with process? Our lawyers offer an initial no-obligation phone or video consultation and are ready to help.

What if my landlord doesn’t return my deposit?

Your landlord is required to pay your deposit back to you within 10 working days of you both mutually agreeing what is owed to you.

If your deposit was protected, then you need to use the dispute process provided by the relevant scheme which holds your deposit to deal with any dispute over its return.

If your deposit wasn’t protected then you may have a claim against your landlord for the return of your deposit plus compensation of up to three times the value of your deposit for each breach.

If your landlord still won’t respond to you, then you may need to make a further claim to enforce a judgment to recover money set out in the court order.

Having trouble with recovering your deposit? Contact us if you need advice or assistance.

How do I get my deposit back?

If your deposit was protected by a relevant tenancy deposit scheme, then you need to follow the relevant guidance from your scheme. However, if your deposit was not protected and your landlord has refused to return it to you, then you may need to bring a claim for the return of your deposit and compensation through the courts.

Receive a call back from our specialist team to help get you started.

My landlord did not provide any ‘prescribed information’, what do I do?