UK Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDS) 1x–3x Compensation Calculator

Who this is for

Tenants with an assured shorthold tenancy in England whose deposit may not have been protected in a government-approved scheme on time, or who never received the prescribed information about it.

Wales and Scotland have their own deposit laws; the amounts and procedures there are different.

What to have ready

• Proof of the date and amount you paid the deposit.
• Search results from DPS, mydeposits and TDS.
• Any prescribed information you received and when.
• A list of every tenancy agreement or renewal with the same landlord.

The rule

Under section 213 of the Housing Act 2004, a landlord in England who takes a deposit for an assured shorthold tenancy must protect it in an authorised scheme (DPS, mydeposits or TDS) and give the tenant the prescribed information within 30 days of receiving it. If the landlord fails, section 214 says the court must order the deposit to be protected or repaid, and must order the landlord to pay the tenant an amount of not less than the deposit and not more than three times the deposit.

Section 215 also stops a landlord from serving a valid section 21 notice while the deposit is unprotected or the prescribed information has not been given, unless the deposit has first been returned. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is abolishing section 21 notices in England, so check whether that change has taken effect for your tenancy. Claims are usually brought in the county court.

Read the official text:

• Housing Act 2004, section 213 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Housing Act 2004, section 214
• GOV.UK: Tenancy deposit protection

Worked example: £1,500 deposit, never protected

30-day deadline passed       : yes (60 days late)
Minimum award under s.214    : 1 x £1,500 = £1,500
Maximum award under s.214    : 3 x £1,500 = £4,500
Plus                          : return or protection of the deposit
Where in that range          : decided by the judge on the facts

Common mistakes

• Checking only one scheme. Search all three with your postcode and tenancy details.
• Assuming the maximum is automatic. Judges usually consider how serious and deliberate the breach was.
• Confusing protection with return. The 30-day rule is about protecting the deposit at the start; returning it at the end follows the scheme's rules.
• Waiting too long. Claims are subject to limitation periods, commonly treated as six years.

Limits of this tool

• This applies to assured shorthold tenancies in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules, and the law in England is changing under the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
• The tool shows the statutory range. It cannot predict where a judge will place the award.
• Some lodger and company lets are outside the scheme rules.

Sources were last checked in October 2026. Statutes are amended often; if the official text differs from this page, the official text controls.