If you are a tenant in Wales and your landlord failed to protect your deposit correctly, you may be entitled to compensation.
At PR Scully, our expert solicitors help tenants like you across north Wales — from Wrexham and Bangor to Llandudno and Rhyl — make tenancy deposit claims.
We act on a no-win, no-fee basis.
So there are no up-front costs and if we do not recover compensation for you, you pay nothing.
Contact us online, call 0161 768 3174, or e-mail info@prscully.com to start your tenancy deposit claim.
PR Scully recovers over £6 million in compensation for clients each year.
Our success is built on securing the full compensation our clients deserve, and we want to do the same for you.
This article explains your landlord’s legal obligations under Welsh law, how to tell if you have a claim, how much compensation you could receive, and how to get started on your claim.
Tenancy deposit protection in Wales: The law explained
If you rent a home in north Wales, your tenancy will most likely be a ‘standard occupation contract’ under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, rather than an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. Any deposit you pay must still be protected in one of the government-approved schemes, and you must be given written ‘prescribed information’ confirming where and how it is held.
Landlords must protect the deposit and provide this prescribed information within 30 days of receiving the deposit. If they don’t, you can claim compensation of one to three times the deposit amount under Schedule 5 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
The laws around protecting tenants’ deposits apply to the private rented sector. We can advise you of your rights in a tenancy deposit claim consultation.
Request a call back from us for free advice today.
Has your landlord failed to protect your deposit?
If you think your landlord has failed in their legal obligations to you, here is a quick checklist. It’s vital that landlords follow the steps legally required of them for protecting your deposit.
Within 30 days of receiving your deposit, did your landlord:
- Protect it with one of the three government-approved tenancy deposit protection schemes?
- Give you written prescribed information about how it is protected?
If not, you may be entitled to make a tenancy deposit compensation claim. Below are the three government backed schemes a landlord in Wales is required to use to protect your deposit:
Three government-approved schemes operating in Wales:
- The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) – Find out more
- MyDeposits – Find out more
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) – Find out more
Summary:
Your landlord failed in their legal duty to tenants if they have:
- Kept the deposit in their own account, rather than an approved scheme. It is not enough for the Landlord to place your deposit in a bank account, even though that might be safe and untouched.
- Placed your deposit in a protected scheme late, after the 30-day window.
- Never sent you the prescribed information.
Unlike England, there is no legal cap on how much deposit a landlord in Wales can ask for. This is why it is so essential that they follow the legal rules around tenants’ deposits.
You can find out more about Tenancy Deposit Compensation Claims on our website, or keep reading to understand whether you have a claim, and what you can do about it.
Can I check if my deposit is protected?
Yes, you can contact any of the three schemes above with the property postcode, your surname, the tenancy start date, and the deposit amount to check whether it is protected.
You should also have been given by your landlord or letting agents written confirmation of the following:
- The deposit amount.
- The property address.
- How deductions and disputes are handled.
- What happens if your landlord doesn’t respond when the tenancy ends.
Do I have a valid compensation claim?
You may have a claim related to you tenancy deposit if:
- Your deposit was never protected in an approved scheme.
- You didn’t receive the prescribed information.
- Your landlord didn’t return your deposit after the tenancy ended.
- Money was unlawfully deducted from your deposit.
If any of this applies to you, contact PR Scully to discuss how much compensation you could be owed.
This article mainly relates to compensation claims related to deposit protection schemes, but PR Scully can help you make a claim on other issues around tenancy deposits too.
This includes unfair or unlawful deductions, and failure to return the deposit at the end the tenancy.
How much is my deposit protection scheme claim worth?
Compensation for tenancy deposit claims in Wales is generally between one and three times the deposit. The exact figure depends on the breach itself and your landlord’s conduct. Here are three areas of breach with varying compensation levels.
Original deposit not protected
If your deposit was never protected, we will typically seek three times the deposit amount. For example, on a £1,000 deposit, we would ask for £3,000 in compensation, plus legal costs.
Missing the 30-day window / no prescribed information
If your landlord protected the deposit late, or protected it but didn’t send the prescribed information in time, you are still entitled to compensation — usually between one and 1.5 times the deposit.
Multiple breaches
Where a deposit was never protected and the landlord has breached the rules across more than one tenancy, we can seek compensation of up to three times the deposit for each individual breach.
How do I make a tenancy deposit scheme claim?
Whether you’re renting in Wrexham, Bangor, Colwyn Bay, or anywhere else in north Wales, the process is the same. Follow these three steps:
- Gather your information: your tenancy agreement, deposit scheme details, bank statements and any correspondence with your landlord so you can provide evidence.
- Contact PR Scully: We’ll review your agreement and check whether your deposit was protected correctly.
- Claim your compensation: We handle the legal work and negotiate on your behalf, representing you in court if needed.
Tenancy deposit claims: No Win, No Fee
Why is pursuing a tenancy deposit scheme compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis helpful to our clients? Here are a few simple reasons:
- There are no legal costs upfront.
- You only pay if you win.
- There is no financial risk to you.
If we do not recover compensation on your behalf, you are not obliged to pay anything. If we recover compensation on your behalf, our fee is capped at 25% of the amount awarded..
Working on a No Win No Fee basis means tenants can pursue landlords or agents who haven’t followed the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, without the fear of legal costs. For those on a low income, this can make the difference between not making a claim, and securing the compensation that you deserve.
What is the process to recover compensation?
Once PR Scully’s solicitors have collected all relevant information from you and are satisfied that you have a valid claim against the landlord, we notify the landlord in writing of the situation and ask them to make an offer of compensation.
Generally, in cases like these, the landlord makes a reasonable offer and we can reach an agreement before proceedings are issued.
If an offer of settlement is made, we will discuss with you whether you are likely to recover significantly more if you take the matter to a court hearing. Then, you can make an informed decision about whether the initial offer is acceptable.
Often, we will negotiate an increased offer with the landlord without having to issue court proceedings or attend court.
Start your tenancy deposit claim today
Don’t let your landlord get away with failing to protect your deposit. If you’ve paid a deposit on a property in north Wales and believe it was mishandled, contact PR Scully today for assistance with tenancy deposit disputes and claims.
Areas we cover in north Wales
We handle tenancy deposit claims for tenants throughout north Wales, including Wrexham, Bangor, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Mold, Flint, Deeside, Caernarfon, Holyhead, and Abergele.
Tenancy Deposit Claims north Wales: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Wales uses ‘occupation contracts’ under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, while England’s tenancies are governed by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Both nations, however, use the same three approved deposit schemes and apply the same 30-day protection rule.
No. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 applies to England only. Tenants in Wales are instead protected under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, which uses different terminology – such as ‘occupation contracts’ and ‘contract-holders’ – but provides broadly similar deposit protections.
The Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). Two are custodial schemes, where the scheme holds your money directly, and one is insurance-backed, where your landlord holds the deposit but pays to insure it.
No. Unlike England, where deposits are capped at five or six weeks’ rent, there is currently no statutory cap on tenancy deposits in Wales.
This depends on your landlord’s response and whether court action is needed, but most claims resolve within three to four months of the initial letter.
You generally have six years from the date your landlord should have returned your deposit to bring a claim for breach of contract.
We normally are able to reach an agreement with landlords before issuing proceedings or going to court. This avoids court fees and legal costs, and it is always the client’s choice on whether to proceed beyond negotiation and attend court.
To avoid legal costs, we always advise the client to take out a Legal Expenses Policy to cover the risk of having to pay any of your landlord’s costs if, for any reason, the litigation is unsuccessful.
The cost of the premium is £134.40 (including the cost of Insurance Premium Tax). The premium only becomes payable after your case and if you recover compensation.
If we do not recover compensation before or after proceedings are taken, the premium is not due for payment.
How can I protect my deposit going forward?
- Insist your landlord registers the deposit immediately.
- Get written confirmation of deposit protection within 30 days
- Create a detailed move-in inventory with photographs of any existing damage