How to get your deposit back when you leave a private rented home
Key points
- Your deposit is held in a government-backed scheme, not with your landlord, so it cannot simply be withheld without a valid reason
- Normal everyday wear and tear — faded paint, worn carpets — cannot be deducted from your deposit, only actual damage you caused
- If you disagree with deductions, each scheme's free Alternative Dispute Resolution service makes a binding decision at no cost to you
Getting ready to leave
When you decide to move out, your deposit does not sit with your landlord. By law, it must be held in one of three government-approved schemes. That means your money is protected, whatever your landlord says.
Before you hand back the keys, take time-stamped photos of every room. Compare them carefully with your move-in inventory. If you never got an inventory, write down the condition of each room on the day you do your final walkthrough.
Which scheme holds your deposit?
Your landlord had 30 days from the day they took your deposit to register it with one of these three schemes:
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
- myDeposits
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)
You should have received a document called prescribed information confirming which scheme holds your money. Check your emails or paperwork, or search each scheme's website for free.
How long should it take?
Once you and your landlord agree on how much to return, they must pay it back within 10 days. If you cannot agree, your money stays safe inside the scheme until the matter is resolved — it cannot disappear.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →What your landlord can and cannot deduct
Your landlord can make reasonable deductions for:
- unpaid rent
- damage to the property or its contents that you caused
- items listed on the inventory that are missing
They cannot deduct for fair wear and tear. That means normal changes from everyday living — faded paintwork, patches worn into a carpet, small scuffs on walls. The longer you lived there, the more everyday wear you are allowed.
How to challenge unfair deductions
Do not accept a deduction you think is wrong. Every government deposit scheme offers a free Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. You submit your evidence — photos, the inventory, email exchanges — and an independent adjudicator decides what is fair. The result is binding on both sides, and you do not need a solicitor or a court date.
Try to raise your dispute within 3 months of moving out. Keep copies of everything you send.
If you are on Universal Credit
Your deposit is often the only lump sum you have saved. If your landlord is trying to keep money unfairly, challenge it before you agree to anything. Getting your deposit back in full gives you more towards a new home and your next rental.
Citizens Advice gives free, confidential help with deposit disputes — including helping you gather evidence, write to your landlord, and start an ADR claim.
Frequently asked questions
My landlord is claiming deductions I think are unfair — what can I do?
Raise a dispute with the government-approved scheme holding your deposit — their free ADR service makes a binding decision, and Citizens Advice can help you gather evidence and submit your claim.
What if my landlord never put my deposit in a government scheme?
Citizens Advice can advise you on your options, which may include a court claim — they give free and confidential help, so contact them as soon as possible.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection