“Landlord Paid £4,320 Without a Fight” — Here’s Why (And How You Can Check If Your Deposit Is Unprotected)

“Disclaimer:Tenant Support UK is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice. All content on this website is for general informational purposes only, based on publicly available legal guidance and personal experience. If you need legal advice tailored to your situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or a trusted housing advice service.“

About a month ago, we received an email. The subject line wasn’t dramatic. The content was.

After months of silence from the landlord and their agent, they quietly paid £4,320, the entire amount demanded in a legal claim, including costs. No argument. No reply. Just payment.

Why? Because they knew they had no legal footing to stand on.

And even though it’s been a few weeks since it happened, we’ve decided to write about it now, because too many tenants are sitting on the same kind of unlawful situation without knowing it. Or worse, they assume they “don’t count” as real tenants because of what the agent told them.

This wasn’t a Rent Repayment Order. It wasn’t even a court judgment. It was a deposit protection claim, the kind most tenants don’t even realise they have the right to make.

And we are here to tell you: check yours.

What Happened?

Let’s break it down.

Paid rent and a deposit.
The deposit was never registered with any of the official protection schemes.
Chased the letting agent and Landlord. Asked questions. Everyone ignored.
Legal advice, filed a Letter of Claim , which is the step before court.
The landlord ignored it.
Then, quietly, they paid every penny, just before court action, probably hoping someone would never speak about it.

too many tenants are walking away from thousands of pounds they’re legally owed, just because they don’t realise the law is on their side.

What the Law Says

Under the Housing Act 2004, any landlord or agent who takes a deposit for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy must:

Protect that deposit in an authorised scheme within 30 days
Provide you with prescribed information about where and how it’s protected

If they fail to do either, you’re entitled to 1–3x the deposit amount in compensation, even if you’ve since left the property. And the best part? You don’t need a solicitor to check if yours was protected.

How to Check if Your Deposit Is Unsecured (Step-by-Step)

There are only three official schemes in England and Wales. You can check them all in less than 10 minutes:

1. Deposit Protection Service (DPS)

Website: www.depositprotection.com

Click on “Check your deposit”
Enter your surname, deposit amount, property postcode, and tenancy start date.

2. MyDeposits

Website: www.mydeposits.co.uk

Scroll down and click “Check if your deposit is protected”
You’ll need similar info.

3. Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

Website: www.tenancydepositscheme.com

Use the “Is my deposit protected?” tool.
Again, just basic tenancy info.

If None of Them Have a Record?

Your deposit probably wasn’t protected.

Now you’ve got something very real.

What to Do If You Find Out It Wasn’t Protected

Take screenshots of the search results.
Gather evidence of your payment (bank transfer, text messages, receipts).
Write a Letter of Claim (or get help from a solicitor or housing charity).
If they ignore you? You can take them to small claims court and demand 1–3x your deposit back and most judges side with tenants when the evidence is clear.

In this case, the threat alone was enough. They paid everything. £4,320 total. And after the legal fees and deductions, the tenant received £2,508 straight into the bank account.

No trial. No defence. Just a quiet payment, because they knew they broke the law.

Why Landlords and Agents Settle Quietly

Because it’s cheaper for them to pay you than risk:

A court ruling on record
Public exposure
Legal precedent
Other tenants finding out

Some landlords rely on tenants not knowing their rights. Some agents even claim, “You’re not really a tenant,” just to avoid liability.

But once you have:

Proof of payment
No deposit registration
Clear tenancy start dates

You’re already in a strong position.

The Bigger Picture

The landlord in this case owns multiple properties. The agent manages many more. But they never expected a tenant to dig this deep, fight this hard, or understand the law this well.

They hoped they walk away quietly.

Instead, they walked away with a legal win and thousands in compensation.

Don’t Assume. Check.

Even if your tenancy was informal.
Even if you were told you’re “just a lodger.”
Even if you moved out months ago.

Check if your deposit was protected.

Because if it wasn’t, the law’s on your side and your landlord might owe you a lot more than you think. This isn’t about revenge. It’s about accountability.

And it’s about time tenants stop being the ones left in the dark.

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