Unprotected Deposit Claim Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to claim compensation where landlord failed to protect your deposit, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong unprotected deposit claim should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• Say when the tenancy started and how much deposit you paid
• Say that the deposit was not protected, or that you were not given the scheme details
• Ask for the deposit to be protected, or returned if the tenancy has ended, within 14 days
• In England, say that if this is not done you may apply to the court

The rules depend on where you rent

England: A landlord must protect a tenancy deposit in a government-approved scheme, and give the tenant the scheme details, within 30 days of receiving it. If this is not done, the tenant can apply to court. The court must order the deposit to be protected or returned, and order the landlord to pay the tenant between 1 and 3 times the deposit.

Wales: A landlord must protect a deposit in an approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and give the contract-holder the scheme details. A landlord who has not protected the deposit cannot give a valid section 173 notice.

Scotland: A landlord must pay a tenancy deposit into an approved scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy starting. If this is not done, the tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber), which can order the landlord to pay up to 3 times the deposit. You must apply to the Tribunal no later than 3 months after the tenancy ends.

Northern Ireland: A landlord must protect a deposit in an approved scheme within 28 days, and give the tenant the scheme details within 35 days. Not protecting the deposit, or not giving that information, within those times is an offence.

What to include before you send it

• Confirmation of the deposit amount and the date it was paid
• A statement that you've checked and the deposit wasn't protected, or the prescribed information wasn't provided
• Any tenancy agreement, receipt or messages that show the deposit was paid
• A reasonable deadline for the landlord to respond or resolve the matter

How to check if your deposit was actually protected

You can check with the approved deposit schemes for your nation, using your name and the address. If the deposit is not on any of them and you were not given the scheme details, it may not have been protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this apply if my tenancy has already ended?
Yes. If the tenancy has ended, the letter asks for the deposit back instead. In England, the court must order the deposit to be protected or returned, and order the landlord to pay between 1 and 3 times the deposit. In Scotland, you must apply to the Tribunal no later than 3 months after the tenancy ends.

Can this affect my landlord’s ability to evict me?
Yes. Section 21 was abolished in England on 1 May 2026, but an unprotected deposit still matters: on most Section 8 grounds the court cannot make a possession order if a deposit you paid was never protected in a government-approved scheme. That is worth knowing if you are also facing eviction.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Telephone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Landlord Name]
[Landlord Address]
[Landlord Postcode]
[Date]

Dear [Landlord Name],

Subject: My tenancy deposit has not been protected – [Address]

My tenancy at [Address] started on [date]. I paid you a deposit of £[Amount] on [Date].

[Choose: My deposit has not been protected in a government-approved scheme. / I have not been given the scheme details (the prescribed information) for my deposit.]

[England and Wales: You had to protect my deposit in an approved scheme and give me the scheme details within 30 days of receiving it.]
[Scotland: You had to pay my deposit into an approved scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy starting.]

Please [protect my deposit and send me the scheme details / return my deposit, as my tenancy has ended] within 14 days.

[England: If this is not done, I may apply to the court. The court must order the deposit to be protected or returned, and order you to pay me between 1 and 3 times the deposit.]
[Scotland: If this is not done, I may apply to the First-tier Tribunal, which can order you to pay me up to 3 times the deposit.]
[Wales: I also note that a landlord who has not protected the deposit cannot give a valid section 173 notice.]

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]