Deposit Return Request Letter Template
A firm but professional letter requesting the return of a tenancy deposit, or disputing unfair deductions made by a landlord.
Use this template if your landlord has not returned your tenancy deposit within 10 days of the end of your tenancy, or if you dispute deductions they have made. Send this letter before raising a formal dispute with the deposit protection scheme.
How long does a landlord have to return my deposit?
A landlord must return your deposit within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you'll get back. There's no fixed statutory deadline for reaching that agreement itself, but where no deductions are proposed there's nothing to negotiate, so a landlord withholding the deposit well beyond the tenancy end date without explanation is acting outside the spirit of the scheme.
What can I do if my landlord won't respond about my deposit?
If your deposit was protected in a government-approved scheme (TDS, DPS or mydeposits), you can raise a free dispute directly with that scheme, which will adjudicate based on evidence without needing to go to court.