Your deposit must be protected
Within thirty days of paying it, your landlord must place your deposit in a government-approved scheme and send you the prescribed information. If they did not, you may be entitled to compensation of up to three times the deposit.
What can be deducted
Unpaid rent
Damage beyond fair wear and tear
Cleaning to return the property to its original condition
Missing items listed on the inventory
Fair wear and tear is not damage. Faded curtains and worn carpets after several years are the landlord’s cost, not yours.
How to challenge a deduction
Every scheme offers a free dispute service. Gather your check-in and check-out inventories, photographs and correspondence, and raise the dispute within the scheme’s deadline. We can prepare the submission for you at a fixed fee.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, book a consultation.
