Landlord Won't Return Your Deposit? Get It Back

ClaimOn has your back

1

The free scheme route first

If your deposit is in one of the three UK protection schemes, you can raise a dispute for free. We help you put together the evidence the adjudicator wants to see.

2

A formal letter if needed

If the scheme route doesn't get your full deposit back, we help you write a Letter Before Action — the formal step before a court claim. Most landlords settle here.

3

Court, if the landlord still refuses

We walk you through filing on the government's online portal (MCOL) or by post. Court fees for deposit-sized claims are typically £35–£70 and recoverable if you win.

Sound familiar?

ClaimOn is designed for exactly the situations tenants run into at the end of a tenancy.

"They've kept it all and I don't know why."

No itemised deductions, no evidence, no money returned. The landlord owes you a clear breakdown — and if they can't produce one, they can't keep your money.

"They're charging for normal wear and tear."

Carpet flattening, faded paint, hairline marks — landlords can't deduct for these. Only damage beyond reasonable wear is recoverable.

"They've quoted way over the top for repairs."

Inflated cleaning charges, suspiciously high "professional" quotes, brand-new replacements for old items. Adjudicators apply fair-value rules; you can challenge inflated amounts.

"I'm not even sure my deposit was protected."

If your landlord failed to put it in one of the three UK schemes within 30 days, you can claim up to three times the deposit value as a penalty. This is often the simplest case to win.

What can you claim back?

If your landlord has kept some or all of your deposit, you can usually claim:

The disputed portion of your deposit — the money you believe should not have been deducted.
A penalty of up to 3× the deposit if the landlord failed to protect it in one of the three UK schemes within 30 days, or failed to give you the prescribed information (section 214, Housing Act 2004).
Statutory interest at 8% per year from the date the deposit should have been returned.
Your court fee if you win — added to the judgment, payable by the landlord.

Most deposit disputes sit comfortably within the small claims track (claims up to £10,000). The scheme adjudication route is usually free, and the court route has modest fees that are recoverable if you win. ClaimOn's eligibility check tells you which route fits your situation in two minutes.

Ready to claim what's yours?

ClaimOn walks you through every step — from the free scheme route through to court enforcement if needed.

Start your claim Read the full guide

Your landlord won't return your deposit?