Letter before court action: Deposit compensation

You can make a compensation claim if:

• your landlord or agent breaks deposit protection rules

• you paid a tenancy deposit for an assured shorthold tenancy

Most private renters have this type of tenancy.

You can ask for compensation of up to 3 times the value of your deposit.

Check all the steps to applying to court for compensation.

Send a formal letter before court action

You need to do this first. It gives your landlord has a chance to put things right before you go to court.

The letter warns them your next step will be court action. It is called a 'letter before claim' or 'letter before action'.

Landlords and agents may negotiate or pay you the compensation if they get a formal letter.

So you could get the compensation without going to court.

Use this letter template instead if the dispute is only about the return of your deposit.

These templates are for when the landlord has broken deposit protection rules.