No protection paperwork
You were not given a deposit certificate or the required prescribed information.
Tenant rights. Landlord responsibilities.
Did your landlord protect your deposit correctly?
RentersProtect helps tenants understand whether a landlord failed to protect a deposit, missed the 30-day deadline, or failed to provide prescribed information. Learn what to check before starting a compensation claim in England or Wales.
England & Wales guidanceScheme checks explainedEvidence-led support
Unprotected depositPotential 1-3x compensation
If your deposit was not protected correctly, you may be able to ask the county court to order your landlord to pay compensation.
30 daysto protect a qualifying deposit and serve information
1-3xpossible compensation ordered by the county court
3 schemesDPS, mydeposits and Tenancy Deposit Scheme
What this is about
Landlords in England and Wales must protect your deposit, usually within 30 days.
In England and Wales, a landlord or letting agent who takes a deposit for an assured shorthold tenancy normally has 30 days to protect it in an approved tenancy deposit scheme and give the tenant prescribed information.
If they do not comply, the tenant can apply to the county court. The court can order the landlord to repay or protect the deposit and may order compensation of one to three times the deposit amount.
Evidence first
Everything you need to check your deposit, in one place.
We cover the practical details that matter most: the dates, documents, scheme records and clear next steps to help you decide what to do.
Common warning signs
Signs your deposit may not have been handled correctly.
You do not need to solve the full legal issue before checking. Start by matching what you paid against the paperwork you received and the records held by the three approved schemes.
Check the full eligibility guideProtected after 30 days
The scheme record shows protection started after your landlord received the deposit.
No scheme record found
DPS, mydeposits or TDS cannot find your deposit using your tenancy details.
Renewal or landlord change
Your tenancy changed, the landlord changed, or the paperwork no longer matches.
Claim categories
Match your situation to the right deposit issue.
The same deposit can raise different questions. Start with the category that best describes what happened, then gather the evidence that proves the dates and paperwork.
Deposit never protected
There is no matching record with DPS, mydeposits or TDS after checking your tenancy details.
Useful evidence
Scheme search results, tenancy agreement and deposit payment proof.
Deposit protected late
The deposit was protected, but the scheme date appears to be more than 30 days after payment.
Useful evidence
Bank statement, receipt and protection certificate date.
Prescribed information missing
The deposit may be protected, but you were not given the required information in time.
Useful evidence
Emails, letters, scheme certificate and any documents the landlord sent.
Renewal or landlord change problems
A renewed tenancy, new landlord or agent handover may have created a compliance gap.
Useful evidence
Old and new agreements, landlord notices and deposit transfer records.
What happens next
Three steps to understanding your situation.
Check the legal basics
Tenancy type, property location, deposit amount, date paid and whether the tenant received the required scheme documents.
Gather the evidence
Tenancy agreements, renewal documents, payment records, emails, prescribed information and scheme search results.
Understand court options
Claims are usually made through the county court if the landlord will not resolve the issue or agree compensation.
Quick answers
Top questions tenants ask first.
Open the answers that match your situation, or view the full FAQ for more detail.
What compensation can a tenant claim?
If the court finds the landlord failed to follow the tenancy deposit rules, it can order the landlord to pay between one and three times the deposit amount. The exact multiplier is for the court to decide.
Does the landlord only breach the rules if the deposit was never protected?
No. Late protection, missing prescribed information, or incorrect paperwork can also create issues. The facts and evidence matter.
What are the three deposit schemes?
For England and Wales, tenants usually check the Deposit Protection Service, mydeposits, and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
Can a tenant claim if the deposit was returned?
Returning the deposit does not automatically remove a previous breach. A tenant may still want the dates and paperwork reviewed.
What is prescribed information?
Prescribed information is the required deposit protection paperwork that tells tenants where the deposit is protected, how the scheme works, how disputes are handled and key details about the tenancy and landlord.
Guides
Read more on the deposit issue that matches your tenancy.
Unprotected deposit
Browse all guides Landlord Did Not Protect My Deposit
What tenants can check if a landlord or letting agent did not protect a tenancy deposit in England or Wales.
Late protectionDeposit Protected Late
How tenants can understand late tenancy deposit protection and the 30-day deadline.
Prescribed informationPrescribed Information Missing
What prescribed information means and why missing tenancy deposit paperwork can matter.
Compensation rangeTenancy Deposit Compensation Guide
Understand the 1 to 3 times deposit compensation range and what evidence may affect the outcome.
Next step
Check whether your landlord missed the deposit protection rules.
Start with the basics: when you paid the deposit, whether it was protected within 30 days, what paperwork you received and what the schemes show.