No scheme details
You were never told which scheme was holding your deposit, or given a certificate.
Tenancy deposit claims · current and past renters
Was your tenancy deposit properly protected?
Most landlords in England and Wales must put your deposit in a government-approved scheme and give you the details within 30 days. If yours didn’t, you may be able to claim compensation, even if you’ve already moved out.
Free to enquire · No obligation · No paperwork needed to start
You can check and claim yourself, for free. Each deposit scheme has an online checker, and you can take a claim to court or tribunal without using a claims company or solicitor. Shelter and Citizens Advice explain how.
Warning signs
Signs your deposit may not have been protected
Any one of these is worth checking. You don’t need to be sure before you get in touch.
Protected late
Your deposit was protected, but more than 30 days after you paid it.
Missing information
You didn’t get the required “prescribed information” about the scheme and how to get your money back.
Not on the checker
Your deposit doesn’t show up when you search the scheme websites.
Deposit kept
Money was kept or deducted at the end without going through a scheme’s dispute process.
How it works
From “I wonder” to knowing, in three steps
- 1
Tell us about the tenancy
Where it was, when you paid the deposit and what you were told about it. It takes about two minutes.
- 2
We check your options
With your permission, we pass your enquiry to a firm that handles deposit claims, who can check the scheme records. We’ll tell you who they are first.
- 3
You decide
If there may be a claim, the partner explains how it works and any fees before anything starts. There’s no obligation to go ahead.
The rules
Deposit protection, in brief
The rules depend on where the property is. This is a general summary, not legal advice.
- England and Wales: for most assured shorthold tenancies (and occupation contracts in Wales), the deposit must be protected in an approved scheme and the prescribed information given within 30 days. If not, a court can order the landlord to pay between one and three times the deposit.
- Scotland: the deposit must be paid into an approved scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy starting. The First-tier Tribunal can order up to three times the deposit, and applications have strict time limits after the tenancy ends.
- Northern Ireland: separate rules and penalties apply.
- Not usually covered: lodgers who live with their landlord, and some company or high-rent lets.
Check my deposit
Tell us about your tenancy
Three quick steps. If you’re not sure about something, choose “not sure”.
Sorry, we couldn’t send your enquiry. Please try again, or email us at marketing@mysticfox.uk.
Had more than one tenancy?
Start with the most recent. Each tenancy can be looked at separately.
Step 1 of 3
Thank you. Your enquiry has been sent.
We’ll be in touch. In the meantime, you can check the deposit schemes yourself using the links above.
FAQs
Good questions
No one can promise an amount. In England and Wales, if a court finds the deposit wasn’t protected properly, it must order compensation of between one and three times the deposit, and it decides where in that range. In Scotland, the tribunal can award up to three times the deposit.
Often, yes. In England and Wales, claims can usually be made for up to six years. In Scotland, time limits are much shorter once the tenancy ends, so it’s worth acting quickly.
Your landlord will find out if you make a claim. If you still live in the property, talk it through with the partner before deciding, so you understand what to expect.
Making an enquiry is free, and you can always check and claim yourself for free. If you choose support with a claim, any fees and cancellation charges must be explained to you before you agree to anything.
Yes. Letting agents often handle deposits, but the rules still apply, and the landlord remains responsible for making sure the deposit is protected.
None to make an enquiry. If there’s a claim, your tenancy agreement and proof of paying the deposit, such as a bank statement, will help.
Contact
Say hello
Phone
Address
Mystic Fox Ltd
57 Brookfield, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tyne And Wear, England, NE27 0BJ