Frequently Asked Questions

No. DepositBack is a document generation and information tool. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We generate documents based on current England & Wales tenancy law and guide you through the dispute process. You should consult a solicitor if your situation is complex.

No outcome is guaranteed. However, tenants who follow proper dispute procedures and submit well-organised evidence have a better chance of a fair outcome. DepositBack helps you build the strongest possible case.

Typically 4-8 weeks from sending your demand letter to receiving your deposit back. If you need to escalate to the deposit scheme, adjudication usually takes an additional 4-6 weeks. Most cases resolve much faster — many landlords respond positively to a professional demand letter within the first 14 days.

You may be entitled to claim 1-3x the deposit amount as a penalty under Section 214 of the Housing Act 2004. Our Premium Pack pack guides you through this higher-value claim process. This is a serious breach of the law, and you have strong rights here.

Not yet. DepositBack currently covers England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different tenancy deposit legislation and different deposit protection schemes. We plan to expand to these regions in the future. If you're in Scotland or Northern Ireland, we recommend contacting your local Citizens Advice or tenants' rights service for guidance.

The demand letter is just the first step. If your landlord doesn't respond within 14 days, we guide you through escalating to your deposit protection scheme's formal dispute resolution process. File a complaint with your scheme along with all your evidence. The scheme is legally required to investigate and make a binding decision. Ignoring the letter and the scheme process makes the landlord's position even weaker.

Yes. You can use the free deposit checker at any time and prepare evidence before you move out. The dispute kit is most useful after your tenancy has ended and deductions have been proposed. However, there's no harm in preparing your evidence checklist and gathering documentation while you're still in the property.

The most important evidence is a dated check-in inventory/report, dated photos from move-in and move-out, and any correspondence with your landlord about property issues. Our evidence checklist tells you exactly what to gather based on your specific deductions. For example, if they claim damage, photos are critical. If they claim unpaid bills, your energy supplier statements help. We guide you on what matters most for your case.

We do not store your personal tenancy data after generating your documents. Your information is processed securely and deleted immediately after your documents are created. If you use our Free Deposit Checker, we collect your email to send you your results — you can opt in to occasional updates about deposit dispute rights and unsubscribe any time. We use Stripe for payment processing and never see your card details. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

We offer a Document Quality Guarantee on all packages. If your documents aren't tailored correctly to your situation, we'll fix them free or refund you in full — no questions asked. Just contact us at [email protected] with your order number and we'll sort it out promptly.