Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it and give you written prescribed information within the same period. If they did not, you may be entitled to compensation of between one and three times the deposit amount. Use this tool to check whether your deposit was protected correctly and what your options are if it was not.

When did you pay the deposit? (DD/MM/YYYY)

How much was the deposit? (£)

Was the deposit protected in a government-approved scheme? Yes No I don’t know

Did you receive written prescribed information about the deposit scheme?

Prescribed information is a written document from your landlord (or the scheme) identifying which scheme holds your deposit, how to reclaim it, and how disputes are resolved.

Yes No I’m not sure what this is

How to use this tool

Enter the date you paid your deposit and the amount.
Answer the questions about the scheme and when you received your paperwork.
Your results will show whether each requirement was met and what you can do next.

Understanding your results

A pass on all three checks means your landlord met the legal requirements. Your deposit should be returned at the end of the tenancy subject to the agreed deductions, with any dispute handled through the scheme’s free dispute resolution service.

A fail on any check means your landlord did not comply with the Housing Act 2004. You may apply to the county court for an order requiring the landlord to protect the deposit and pay you compensation. The court sets the compensation amount between one and three times the deposit. You can make this claim during the tenancy or after it has ended. The right to claim does not expire when the tenancy ends.

An unknown result means you need to obtain more information before the check can be completed. The tool will show you the steps to find that information.

The law behind this tool

Under the Housing Act 2004 (sections 213 to 215), landlords in England and Wales who take a tenancy deposit for an assured shorthold tenancy must protect it in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. The three approved schemes are: Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, and Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). Within the same 30-day period, the landlord must provide the tenant with prescribed information about the scheme. If a landlord fails to comply, the tenant can apply to county court. The court can order the landlord to repay the deposit or protect it, and to pay the tenant between one and three times the deposit amount as a penalty. These obligations apply to tenancies in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate schemes and rules.

Related tools

Deposit Cap Calculator — check the maximum deposit your landlord can legally charge
Deposit Deduction Calculator — work out whether proposed deductions at the end of your tenancy are fair
Notice Period Calculator — find the correct notice period for your tenancy under current rules

Save your results: create a free account to store your check results and return to them later.