How the calculator works

Breach detection

• Protection breach: deposit protected after 30 days, never protected, or unconfirmed — Housing Act 2004 s213(3).
• Information breach: Prescribed Information not confirmed as served within 30 days — s213(5)–(6) and the Housing (Tenancy Deposits) (Prescribed Information) Order 2007.

Compensation formula

• Deposit return: 100% of the deposit (s214(3)).
• Penalty per breach: minimum 1x, maximum 3x the deposit (s214(4)).
• Number of breaches: 1 + renewals/periodic continuations (Superstrike Ltd v Rodrigues [2013] EWCA Civ 669).
• Total range: deposit return + (breaches × 1x) to deposit return + (breaches × 3x).

Section 21 check

Any breach is flagged as blocking a valid Section 21 notice under s215 Housing Act 2004, as amended by the Deregulation Act 2015 (ss30–32).

Limitation

Claims under s214 are subject to a six-year limitation period under s9 Limitation Act 1980. We flag claims as likely time-barred if more than six years have passed since the tenancy end date.

Pre-action procedure

The letter template follows the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols. Claims are brought under CPR Part 8.

Limitations of this tool

Courts have discretion within the range and may award fewer breaches than the maximum. Some deposits (e.g. held before 6 April 2007, non-ASTs) fall outside the rules. This tool is information, not legal advice.