Getting Your Deposit Back Checklist

Your landlord must return your deposit within 10 days of agreeing the final amount, or within 10 days of the tenancy ending where no deductions are proposed. Plenty do not, and the answer is almost never a longer argument by email. Your money sits in a government-approved scheme that runs a free adjudication service, and the burden of justifying any deduction falls on the landlord rather than on you. Use this checklist to work through it in the right order.

Use the scheme, not the argument

Your deposit is not held by your landlord — it sits in a government-approved scheme, and every scheme runs a free adjudication service for disputes. That service is the point of the system, and it is far more effective than a long exchange of emails. Adjudicators decide on the evidence, and the burden of proving a deduction is justified sits with the landlord, not with you.

  • First: ask for an itemised breakdown of every proposed deduction, with receipts, invoices or quotes. A round figure with no explanation is not a justified deduction.
  • Then: accept anything that is genuinely fair and dispute the rest in writing, referring to the check-in inventory and your own dated photographs.
  • If unresolved: raise a dispute with the scheme. The undisputed portion is normally released to you while the rest is adjudicated.

Time limits apply. Schemes expect disputes to be raised within a set period after the tenancy ends, and cashing a payment marked as full and final settlement can be treated as accepting the deductions. Read what you are signing or clicking before you accept.

If the deposit was never protected at all, that is a separate and stronger claim. You can apply to the county court, which can order the deposit returned plus a penalty of between one and three times its value, and the obligation does not disappear because you have moved out.

Confirming your deposit was protected

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If deductions are proposed

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Raising a formal dispute

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Helpful organisations

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Government

Government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme that safeguards deposits and resolves disputes.

Visit website

Shelter

Charity

A housing charity providing advice and support for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

Visit website0808 800 4444

Citizens Advice

Charity

Provides free, confidential, and independent advice on a wide range of issues including benefits, housing, debt, and employment.

Visit website0800 144 8848

Frequently asked questions

What if my landlord simply ignores me?
You do not need their cooperation. Contact the deposit scheme directly — you can find which one holds your money by searching each scheme's online register with your address and tenancy details. Schemes have processes for cases where a landlord will not engage, and can release funds where the landlord fails to respond within their timescales. Keep sending your requests in writing anyway, because the adjudicator will see that you tried to resolve it reasonably.
How does adjudication actually work?
Both sides submit evidence to the scheme and an independent adjudicator decides in writing, usually within a few weeks. There is no hearing, no fee, and no need for a solicitor. The decision is binding, and you generally cannot then take the same dispute to court. Submit a clear, organised bundle: the check-in and check-out inventories, your dated photographs, the tenancy agreement, and a short numbered response to each proposed deduction.
What if I have already accepted part of the deduction?
Accepting one item does not prevent you disputing others, provided you were clear about which you agreed to. What does cause problems is a blanket acceptance, or cashing a payment described as full and final settlement. Always respond item by item in writing: agree what is fair, dispute what is not, and say so explicitly before any money moves. If you have already accepted in error, raise it with the scheme quickly and explain what happened.
Can I claim the penalty for non-protection after moving out?
Yes. The right to apply to the county court where a deposit was never protected, or where the prescribed information was never given, survives the end of the tenancy. The court can order the deposit repaid and award between one and three times its value on top. Gather proof that you paid the deposit and evidence that the schemes hold no record of it. Free advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice will help you assess whether a claim is worth bringing.

Related guides

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.