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Unprotected Deposit in Wales: Your Rights
Under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, the court can order up to 3 times the deposit if it wasn't protected within 30 days. Free letter.
1. Your tenancy
Was the deposit protected in a scheme (DPS, mydeposits or TDS; SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland)?
Your result
Up to 3 × your deposit
Your landlord broke the deposit rules. You can claim this from the county court, plus the deposit back if it isn't protected.
✉️ 2. Letter to your landlord
🧭 What to do next
- Check whether your deposit is protected: search DPS, mydeposits and TDS (in Scotland: SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland, mydeposits Scotland).
- Send the letter by email and keep proof. Give the landlord 14 days.
- No reply? Make a claim in the county court, usually with form N208. Court fees apply, and you can ask for them to be added to what the landlord pays.
- Free advice: Shelter, Citizens Advice, Shelter Cymru.
Rules last checked: October 2026. The court or tribunal decides the final amount. Bank holidays aren't counted in the Scottish working-day deadline. General information, not legal advice. 🔒 Everything stays on your device.
Questions people ask
What happens if my landlord didn't protect my deposit?+
In England the court must order the landlord to pay you between 1 and 3 times the deposit, and to protect or repay it. In Wales the court can order up to 3 times; in Scotland the tribunal must order up to 3 times.
How long does the landlord have to protect it?+
30 days from receiving it in England and Wales (and to give you the prescribed information). In Scotland, 30 working days from the start of the tenancy.
Can I still claim after I've moved out?+
Yes. In England you have up to 6 years. In Scotland you must apply within 3 months of the tenancy ending.
How much deposit can a landlord take?+
In England, at most 5 weeks' rent, or 6 weeks if the yearly rent is £50,000 or more (Tenant Fees Act 2019). Anything above that must be refunded.
How do I check if my deposit is protected?+
Search the three schemes in England and Wales (DPS, mydeposits, TDS) or the three in Scotland (SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland, mydeposits Scotland) with your name, postcode and deposit amount.