Landlord won't return your deposit: what to do

Your deposit is protected: use the scheme.

The answer in 2 lines. In England, your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. At the end of the tenancy, once you agree how much comes back, it must be returned within 10 days. If you disagree about deductions, use the scheme's free dispute service: the money stays protected until it is settled. Deductions must be justified: normal wear and tear cannot be charged. If the deposit was never protected, you can go to court and may get 1 to 3 times the deposit.

The first 3 steps

Gather your evidence: tenancy agreement, check-in and check-out inventories, the date you returned the keys, photos, rent records.
Find out which scheme holds your deposit: your landlord had to tell you in writing within 30 days. You can also search the three schemes' websites.
Ask for it back in writing (email is fine). If you disagree with the deductions, open a free dispute with the scheme.

The rules and deadlines

Protection: for most private tenancies in England (assured tenancies, including the former assured shorthold tenancies), the deposit must be protected in a government-backed scheme (Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits or the Tenancy Deposit Scheme) within 30 days.
Return: once you and the landlord agree the amount, it must be paid back within 10 days.
Dispute: if you can't agree, the scheme's free dispute resolution service decides. The disputed amount stays protected meanwhile.
Maximum deposit: 5 weeks' rent if the annual rent is under £50,000, 6 weeks if it is £50,000 or more (Tenant Fees Act 2019).

What the landlord can deduct

Unpaid rent or bills you owed under the tenancy.
Damage beyond normal use, compared with the check-in inventory.
Cleaning, if the home is less clean than when you moved in.
Each deduction should be explained and backed by evidence (photos, quotes, invoices).
The landlord cannot charge for fair wear and tear: the normal ageing of carpets, paint and fittings over time.

What not to do

Not paying the last month's rent "to cover" the deposit: you can be charged for the unpaid rent.
Handing back the keys without a check-out inspection or your own dated photos.
Forgetting to give your landlord and the scheme your new address.

Good to know

If your landlord never protected the deposit, or did not give you the required information, you can apply to court. The court can order the landlord to repay the deposit and pay you 1 to 3 times its amount.
Since 1 May 2026, the Renters' Rights Act 2025 has changed many renting rules in England, but deposits must still be protected in an approved scheme and the 5 or 6 weeks' cap still applies.
Wales uses the same three schemes, under its own renting law. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own deposit schemes and rules.

In Bristol, Hannah moved out ten weeks ago and is still waiting for her £1,000 deposit, though the check-out report was clean. She finds it is held by one of the schemes and emails her landlord. He proposes keeping £300 for "redecoration"; she refuses and opens a free dispute. The adjudicator awards her the full amount, as it was normal wear and tear.

A made-up story, for illustration.

The key numbers

30 days for the landlord to protect your deposit.
10 days to return it once the amount is agreed.
5 weeks' rent: the usual maximum deposit.
1 to 3 times the deposit: what a court can award if it was not protected.

Useful contacts (England)

Shelter: free housing advice online and by phone, for renters in England.
Citizens Advice: free, independent advice on renting, repairs and deposits.
Your local council (private housing or environmental health team): can inspect a rented home and order a landlord to fix serious hazards.
101 police non-emergency · 999 if anyone is in danger.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 18 October 2026, for England. Confidence: high for the protection rules, deadlines and court compensation (GOV.UK) and for the 5 or 6 weeks' rent cap (Tenant Fees Act 2019); medium for how the Renters' Rights Act changes from 1 May 2026 affect individual cases. Only the scheme's adjudicator or a court can decide your dispute. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis or legal advice.