Tenancy Deposit Penalty

Estimate the penalty range a court can award where a landlord failed to protect your deposit (1× to 3× per Housing Act 2004 s.214).

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All values calculated using standing rule (Housing Act 2004 s.214) figures.

£

A new fixed-term tenancy or a statutory periodic tenancy can each count as a separate breach.

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How this is calculated

Sections 213–215 of the Housing Act 2004 require landlords to protect a tenancy deposit in an authorised scheme within 30 days, and to provide prescribed information about the scheme. Where they fail:

  • The court can award the tenant a penalty of between 1× and 3× the deposit (s.214(4)).
  • Each fresh tenancy where the breach was repeated can attract a separate penalty (Superstrike v Rodrigues [2013]).
  • The deposit must additionally be returned in full or paid into the scheme.

Court awards typically scale with severity: minor / accidental → 1×, deliberate / never-protected → 3×. This calculator gives an indicative range, not a guarantee — the court has full discretion.

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