What to do when your landlord won't return your deposit

If you rented your home on an assured shorthold tenancy in England or Wales, your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receiving it.

Start by checking which scheme holds your deposit. Your landlord should have given you the scheme details when you moved in. If they didn't, that itself may be a breach.

If your landlord proposes deductions you disagree with, you can raise a dispute through the deposit scheme's free resolution service. Gather your tenancy agreement, the check-in and check-out inventories, and any photos.

If the deposit was never protected, you may be entitled to compensation of up to three times the deposit amount. Harry can help you draft a letter before action setting out your claim.