Tenancy Deposit Claims

A tenancy deposit claim is a legal process that allows tenants to seek financial compensation when a landlord fails to comply with deposit protection laws. This usually happens if the landlord fails to protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme or fails to provide the tenant with the required legal information.

Yes. If you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), which is the most common type of tenancy, and you paid a deposit, your landlord is legally required to protect it in a government-backed scheme within 30 days of receiving it.

It is a government-approved scheme designed to safeguard your deposit money during your tenancy, ensuring it isn’t unfairly withheld. In England and Wales, there are three approved providers: the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS).

Your landlord must provide you with official documentation from one of the three approved schemes proving the deposit is secured. If you never received this, you can check online by entering your tenancy details directly into the search portals on the DPS, MyDeposits, and TDS websites. Alternatively, we can check this for you.

Prescribed information is a specific set of legal documents and details your landlord must give you within 30 days of receiving your deposit. It includes the contact details of the protection scheme, the terms under which deductions can be made, and information on how to resolve disputes. Failing to provide this exact information is a breach of the law, even if the deposit was technically protected.

You likely have a valid claim if your landlord did not protect your deposit at all, protected it later than 30 days after you paid it, or failed to provide you with the official prescribed information. We can assess your circumstances to confirm your behaviour and eligibility.

If your landlord broke the rules, they face automatic legal penalties. The court can order them to repay your original deposit (or ensure it is immediately placed into a proper scheme) and pay you an additional statutory compensation penalty.

By law, the court can award between 1 and 3 times the value of your original deposit in compensation. The exact amount depends on the severity of the landlord’s breach for instance, a deliberate failure to protect the money attracts a higher penalty than a minor administrative delay.

Yes, absolutely. You do not need to be living in the property to make a claim. You can bring a claim against a former landlord after your tenancy has ended.

Yes. Even if your deposit was returned to you at the end of the tenancy, your landlord remains liable for any breaches committed during the tenancy. If they protected it late or failed to provide the prescribed information, you can still claim the 1-to-3 times penalty.

Yes. If your landlord made unfair deductions or failed to follow deposit protection rules, you can challenge the deductions and pursue a compensation claim simultaneously.

Yes. The law states the deposit must be protected within 30 days. Protecting it on day 31 or later is still a breach of the law, meaning you remain entitled to claim compensation.

Ideally, you will need your tenancy agreement, proof of the deposit payment (such as a bank statement or receipt), and any emails, texts, or letters between you and your landlord regarding the deposit.

Do not worry if you are missing paperwork. We can often help track down the required evidence, request documents from the landlord, or search the official scheme databases to build your case.

Under the Limitation Act 1980, you generally have up to 6 years from the date the breach occurred to bring a claim. However, it is always best to seek legal advice as soon as possible while evidence is fresh.

Not necessarily. As long as the breach occurred within the last 6 years, you are legally within your rights to pursue the claim.

We will offer an initial assessment of your case. We will review your tenancy details, check the status of your deposit, and advise you clearly on whether you have a viable claim and how much compensation you could expect.

It is highly unlikely. The vast majority of tenancy deposit claims are settled out of court. Landlords usually choose to authorise a settlement once they realise they are facing strict statutory penalties. If court proceedings do become necessary, we will handle the paperwork and support you throughout.

Every case varies, but a straightforward claim where the breach is clear can often be resolved within a few months. If a landlord disputes the facts, it may take longer, but we will keep you updated at every stage.

Yes. Your claim will be managed by a dedicated member of our specialist team, ensuring you always have a direct point of contact who knows your case inside out.

We adapt to you. We can provide updates via phone, email, or post, whichever method you prefer, ensuring you are never left in the dark.

Yes, where appropriate, we offer our services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), widely known as a No Win, No Fee agreement. This means if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not owe us a penny for our time.

No. If your case is accepted on a No Win, No Fee basis, there are no upfront legal fees to pay. We only get paid when we successfully secure your compensation.

Under a No Win, No Fee agreement, you are protected from paying our legal fees if the claim fails. We will clearly outline the full terms and conditions before any work starts so you face no hidden surprises.

Landlords cannot lawfully evict you simply for exercising your legal rights. Furthermore, if a landlord fails to protect your deposit properly, any Section 21 eviction notice they serve you is automatically invalid. If you are worried about retaliatory eviction, we can provide immediate legal guidance.

GLP Solicitors combines deep legal expertise with a jargon-free, tenant-first approach. We fight to hold landlords accountable, securing the maximum compensation possible while taking the stress out of the legal process.

Simply gather whatever documents you have to hand, like your tenancy agreement or a bank statement showing the deposit transfer. If you don’t have them ready, don’t let that stop you from reaching out.

Getting started is simple. Contact GLP Solicitors by telephone, email, or fill out our quick online enquiry form. We will take care of the rest.