Deposit checker
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland
Deposit checker
Should my deposit be protected?
What are tenancy deposit protection schemes?
Does my landlord have to use one to protect my deposit?
How do I get my money back if it's not protected?
Use this free assessment to find out about your rights.
Question 1 Do you have an assured shorthold tenancy?
If you are not certain what type of tenancy you have, use our tenancy checker to find out.
Question 2 When did you pay your deposit?
Question 3 Have you signed a new tenancy agreement since 6th April 2007
Result
Your landlord is not required to use a tenancy deposit protection scheme. These schemes are only mandatory if you have an assured shorthold tenancy and you paid your deposit after 6th April 2007.
If your landlord refuses to return your deposit without a good reason, visit our pages on getting an unprotected deposit back.
Result
Your landlord must protect your deposit in a Government-backed scheme.
Visit our page on tenancy deposit protection schemes for more information about how they work, what to do if your landlord refuses to use the scheme and what happens if there's a dispute at the end of your tenancy.
Result
The Government says that your deposit should be protected if your original tenancy has been renewed or replaced after the 6th April 2007. However, this isn’t specifically mentioned in the legislation and it hasn't been tested through the courts yet. Visit our page on tenancy deposit protection schemes for more information about how they work.
If you are in this situation and your landlord refuses to protect or return your deposit, you‘ll probably need help. Use our directory to find an adviser who can help you to negotiate with your landlord and start court action if necessary.
We can't guarantee that the results of this assessment will always be 100% accurate. If you're unsure about any details, or if your circumstances are not covered, use our directory to find a local advice centre or call our free national helpline on 0808 800 4444 to speak to an adviser.
