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Donating dormant client account funds

Your contribution can help thousands of people struggling with bad housing or homelessness

What are dormant funds?

When a solicitors firm has a remaining client fund that they are unable to pay to the client, it is considered dormant. The company is permitted to withdraw those funds and donate them to a charity of their choice.

You can donate unclaimed client accounts to Shelter:

  • if reasonable attempts have failed to establish the identity and contact details of the money's owner

  • without SRA permission if the balance is under £500

  • providing SRA permission is granted if the amount is over £500

Additional guidance can be found on the SRA website.

How your donation changes lives

The money donated through dormant accounts can be life-changing. Not only will it help people find or keep the accommodation they need, it will also work to ensure that people have a stable and nurturing place to call home.

Read more about the vital work we do.

How we spend your money.

  • £250 could pay for eight families to get support from our helpline and help them get back on their feet

  • £2,750 could cover the cost of a peer mentor to go out on the streets for a full day

  • £49,000 could enable Legal Advisors to complete 1000 applications for legal aid funding

  • £157,000 could pay for 1,000 families to get the vital legal advice they need to keep their home

How to donate

We know that dealing with unclaimed accounts can be a concern and we want to make it as easy as possible.

Step 1: Inform the SRA

For balances over £500, use the Solicitors Regulation Authorities form to apply for the authority to withdraw funds from the client account.

Step 2: Notify the account holder

Use our template letter to notify the account holder of your intention to donate the unclaimed funds to Shelter.

Letter template: Dormant account holder (.doc)

Step 3: Make your donation

By cheque

To make a donation by cheque, please include a cover letter with the client’s name and reference number. Make them payable and send it by post to:

Shelter Corporate Team
Freepost SE3319
88 Old Street
London, EC1V 9HU

By bank transfer

Please email the team at corporate@shelter.org.uk with the details of your donation so we can provide you with our account number and sort code for you to make the transfer.

Once the transfer is made, we will send you a receipt via email.

Step 4: We'll be in touch

Thank you so much for choosing to donate to Shelter. On receiving your donation, our team will be in touch by email to thank you for your support.

If you have any questions about making a contribution through a dormant account, please don't hesitate to contact our corporate team at corporate@shelter.org.uk.