Was your deposit actually protected?

Landlords in England must put your deposit in one of three government schemes within 30 days and tell you where it is. If they didn't, a court can order them to pay you 1–3 times the deposit on top of returning it. Check in 5 minutes — free.

Free check and draft letter. We are not a law firm and we cannot tell you your chances. You send the letter and any claim yourself. This is not legal advice.

How it works

1. 1. Tell us about the tenancy. Postcode, dates, how much the deposit was and who the landlord or agent is.
2. 2. Search the three schemes. We open each scheme's own search page and give you the exact details to paste in. You upload a screenshot of what it says — that screenshot is your evidence later.
3. 3. Answer five questions about the information your landlord had to give you when the deposit was taken.
4. 4. Get the range and the letter. We show what the law allows and generate a letter before action for you to check and send yourself.

What we do not do

• We never file anything at court and never write to a court or your landlord for you.
• We do not predict the outcome, and we cannot say what a judge will decide.
• We are not solicitors, and nothing here is legal advice.
• England only — Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules.

Where the rules come from

• Housing Act 2004, section 213 — protect the deposit and give the prescribed information within 30 days.
• Housing Act 2004, section 214 — the court must order between one and three times the deposit.
• GOV.UK: tenancy deposit protection — the three schemes, and what to do if yours was not protected.