UKMy landlord won't return my deposit after I moved out. What can I do?
If your landlord didn’t protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme or failed to return it within 10 days of agreeing how much you’re owed, you can apply to the county court for repayment and a penalty of up to three times the deposit.
What the Law Says
The law requires landlords in England and Wales to protect tenants’ deposits in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme — and to do so within strict time limits. If they fail, you may be entitled not just to your deposit back, but also a financial penalty.
Under the Housing Act 2004, if you rented a property under an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) on or after 6 April 2007, your landlord must place your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it.
They must also give you prescribed information about the scheme, including contact details and how to resolve disputes. If they don’t comply, you have the right to go to court — even after you’ve moved out.
The court can order your landlord to repay the deposit and may also award a penalty of between one and three times the deposit amount.
Statutory TextIf a landlord is in breach of any of the requirements of this Chapter, the tenant may apply to a county court for an order requiring the landlord to pay the deposit to the custodial scheme or to pay the tenant such amount as the court considers just, not exceeding three times the amount of the deposit.
— Housing Act 2004, s. 214 — Application to county court
What to Do
Check whether your deposit was protected: ask your landlord for proof or search the three official schemes (TDS, DPS, MyDeposits) using your postcode and tenancy dates.
Write to your landlord formally requesting your deposit and citing s. 214 of the Housing Act 2004 — keep a copy.
If they don’t respond or refuse, complete form N208 (Claim for return of tenancy deposit) and file it at your local county court.
Attend the hearing (if required) — you can represent yourself; no lawyer is needed.
If successful, the court will order repayment and may add a penalty of 1–3x the deposit.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.