If your landlord did not protect your tenancy deposit in a government-approved scheme (TDS, DPS or MyDeposits) within 30 days of receiving it, you may be entitled to compensation of one to three times the deposit amount under section 214 of the Housing Act 2004. This is in addition to the return of the deposit itself.
Check it yourself for free
All three approved schemes let you search for your own deposit at no cost. If your deposit is not listed with any of them, it may not have been protected. Search Tenancy Deposit Scheme, Deposit Protection Service and mydeposits.
How the claim works
- You complete the check form above (takes about 2 minutes).
- Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd reviews your enquiry within 1 working day.
- If your case looks strong, Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd may refer your details to a suitably qualified legal representative or claims handler for assessment.
- Any legal representative or claims handler works subject to their own terms of business. Many tenancy-deposit claims are handled on a no-win-no-fee basis, but this depends on an assessment of your circumstances.
- Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd may receive a referral fee for the introduction. You do not pay Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd anything.
Deposit protection in numbers
- Deposits protected in England and Wales: 4.7 million
- Average deposit: £1,175
- Deposits that went to formal adjudication in the year to March 2025: 46,950, about 1 in 100
- Most common reasons for a dispute: cleaning 54%, damage 49%, redecoration 31%, gardening 14%, rent arrears 10%
Figures are from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme adjudication data for the 12 months to March 2025, as reported by the National Residential Landlords Association. Those adjudications are disputes about deductions at the end of a tenancy, which the schemes resolve free of charge. That is a different thing from a claim under section 214 of the Housing Act 2004, which arises where the deposit was never protected properly in the first place.
A deposit for an assured tenancy in England is capped at five weeks' rent, or six weeks' rent where the annual rent is £50,000 or more, under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. It must be protected in an approved scheme within 30 days of the landlord receiving it, under section 213 of the Housing Act 2004. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 did not change either rule.
About Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd
Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales under company number 09951177, registered office Unit 2a Cowm Top Lane, Rochdale OL11 2PU, and is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office as a data controller under registration reference ZA232148. Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd is an introducer, not a law firm. Tenancy-deposit claims under sections 213 to 215 of the Housing Act 2004 are contractual and statutory claims and fall outside the Financial Conduct Authority's claims-management activity perimeter under the Claims Management Activity Order 2018. Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd is therefore not required to be FCA-authorised for this work.
You do not have to use Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd
You have the right to instruct any solicitor of your choice, or to bring a claim yourself through the small claims track using Money Claim Online. See our deposit-claim guide for the do-it-yourself route.
What this service does NOT cover
Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd handles tenancy-deposit claims only. We do not handle housing disrepair, damp and mould, eviction defence, possession proceedings, or any other claim type. If your issue is not about your deposit, please see our other tenant resources or contact Citizens Advice or Shelter directly.
Frequently asked questions
How much could I be owed?
If your landlord failed to protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, the court may order compensation of one to three times the deposit amount under section 214 of the Housing Act 2004. The exact amount is at the judge's discretion. You may also be entitled to the return of the deposit itself.
How long do I have to claim?
Tenancy-deposit claims are typically subject to a six-year limitation period under the Limitation Act 1980 from the date of the breach. You can usually still claim after the tenancy has ended. The earlier you act, the better your evidence will be.
What if I do not know whether my deposit was protected?
Each scheme has a free online deposit-checker: TDS, DPS, and MyDeposits. If your deposit does not appear in any of the three schemes, that itself can be evidence the landlord failed to protect it.
Do I have to pay anything?
No. You do not pay Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd anything. Any legal representative or claims handler who takes the case on works to their own terms of business, and whether a no-win-no-fee arrangement is available depends on an assessment of your circumstances.
Is Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd a law firm?
No. Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd is an introducer, not a law firm. Any legal work would be carried out by a suitably qualified legal representative or claims handler, not by Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd, and Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd may receive a referral fee for the introduction.
Can I bring the claim myself?
Yes. You can bring a tenancy-deposit claim yourself through the small claims track using Money Claim Online. You are not obliged to use Deposit Recovery Claims Ltd or any solicitor. Our deposit-claim guide explains the do-it-yourself route.