Since 2007, every landlord in England and Wales must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. If they didn't, or they were even a day late, you could be owed up to 3× the deposit back, plus the deposit itself.
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We check all three government-approved deposit schemes and tell you whether your landlord registered yours within the legal 30-day window.
Retriever Claim is a trading style. Claim Simple LTD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated claims management activities – FRN:830182. You can pursue your own claim without the help of a CMC.
Non-compliance rates range from 11% to 58% depending on region. If you've rented privately in the last 6 years, it's worth a 60-second check.
Renting your first or second flat. You paid a deposit and assumed everything was handled. You've never checked if it was actually protected.
32% of private renters are aged 25-34, the largest group in the PRS.
Shared house, small deposit. Your landlord deducted for 'cleaning' when you left. A £500 deposit claim at 3× is worth £2,000.
September intake to July move-out creates a seasonal spike in deposit issues.
You've been in your home for years, renewing the tenancy multiple times. Each renewal where the deposit wasn't protected is a separate breach; they stack.
1.6 million PRS households have dependent children (34% of all private renters).
You moved out months or years ago. Your deposit was never returned in full. You assumed it was too late. It probably isn't.
You have up to 6 years from the end of your tenancy to bring a claim.
Under the Housing Act 2004, every landlord who takes a deposit must do two things within 30 days:
Protect the deposit in one of three government-approved schemes.
Serve you with "prescribed information" about the scheme and dispute process.
If the court finds a breach, it must order the landlord to return the deposit and pay 1-3× compensation.
Your landlord never registered your deposit with DPS, TDS, or mydeposits. This is the most clear-cut breach.
Your landlord registered the deposit, but after the 30-day deadline. Even being a single day late is a breach.
Your landlord protected the deposit but never gave you written details about which scheme was used. This is a separate breach.
If you signed a new fixed-term agreement while the deposit was unprotected, each renewal counts as its own breach.
4.7m
private rented households in England
English Housing Survey 2024-25
11-58%
non-compliance rate depending on region
Marks Out of Tenancy study
£1,434
average UK tenancy deposit
Property Reporter
~30,000
deposit disputes raised annually across schemes
Compens AI
64%
of average monthly income: what a deposit represents
Zero Deposit analysis
6 years
the window to bring a claim after your tenancy ends
Shelter / Citizens Advice
Even if your landlord protects your deposit before the court hearing, compensation is still owed for the period of non-compliance.
You don't need a solicitor. The court process (Form N208, £377 fee) is designed for tenants to use themselves.
A landlord who hasn't protected your deposit cannot serve a valid Section 21 eviction notice.
Prescribed information is a separate obligation that's widely overlooked. Missing the paperwork is still a valid claim.
Even Purplebricks got it wrong. In 2021, thousands of deposits weren't properly lodged due to a technical error.
The lowest observed deposit compliance rate in England is 42%, in the North West.
If a court finds your landlord breached the rules, it must order them to return your deposit and pay 1× to 3× compensation. The multiplier depends on the circumstances of your case.
Modest breaches → 1×
First-time landlords who genuinely didn't know the rules.
Flagrant breaches → up to 3×
Professional landlords or those who deliberately ignored the requirements.
Deposit return + penalty. Single tenancy, single breach.
| Deposit | 1× | 3× | Max total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £500 | £500 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| £800 | £800 | £2,400 | £3,200 |
| £1,000 | £1,000 | £3,000 | £4,000 |
| £1,434 | £1,434 | £4,302 | £5,736 |
| £1,500 | £1,500 | £4,500 | £6,000 |
| £2,000 | £2,000 | £6,000 | £8,000 |
Highlighted row = UK average deposit (£1,434). The court decides the penalty multiplier (1x to 3x) based on the circumstances of each case. Figures shown are for a single tenancy. No-win-no-fee solicitor fees of up to 25% of compensation apply. Individual results vary.
This is where Retriever Claim comes in. If there's a claim here, we'll match you with a solicitor from our panel who does deposit claims specifically. They'll run it on a no-win-no-fee basis. And we'll stay beside you the whole way, so you've always got someone to ask.
It costs you nothing to use us. You've nothing to lose by finding out where you stand.
Enter your details. Get a verdict in 60 seconds.
A real person reviews your result and confirms viability.
Our panel solicitor sends a formal letter to your landlord.
If your landlord doesn't settle, Form N208 is filed. £377 fee is reclaimable.
Search your deposit on DPS, TDS, and mydeposits websites
10 minutesWrite and send a letter before action to your landlord
1-2 hoursWait 14-21 days for a response
2-3 weeksFile Form N208 at your local county court (£377 fee)
1 hourAttend hearing and present your case
4-8 weeks from filingCourt fee: £377 (reclaimable if you win). Fee reduction available for low-income claimants. No legal aid available for deposit compensation claims.
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