Start with the specific disagreement
If a deposit has not been returned, first establish whether the landlord proposes deductions or has simply not responded. Those are different problems. Locate the deposit documentation and check the applicable official process promptly. Keep a timeline of the tenancy ending, requests for repayment and responses so the next person reviewing the case can see what has happened.
Work through the facts, one step at a time
Confirm the end-of-tenancy record
Record the relevant dates, return of keys and any checkout communication. Keep the deposit amount and payment receipt available. Avoid assuming a missing payment means there are no proposed deductions.
Request a clear account
Ask whether the landlord is proposing deductions, returning the full amount or waiting for a specific step. Request the relevant scheme details if you do not have them. Keep the request concise and save proof of sending.
Use the appropriate route
Check the scheme or local housing guidance for non-response and repayment disputes. Track any time limits. Do not keep postponing the formal inquiry solely because another informal promise to respond has been made.
What this can look like
A tenant waits for repayment after returning keys, but the landlord says a final account is still being prepared. Asking for the proposed deductions and deposit-process details clarifies whether the issue is accounting, disagreement or continued non-response.
This is an invented scenario to explain the approach, not a customer result or a prediction of your outcome.
Records worth gathering
- Deposit receipt
- Tenancy end and key-return record
- Repayment requests
- Scheme or protection documents
Keep originals and prepare copies of the relevant parts. Redact unrelated personal details before sharing. Explain any gaps in the record rather than filling them with assumptions.
Open a clearer conversation
Edits stay on this page and are lost when you leave. Nothing is sent automatically. This is a discussion starter, not a legal notice or settlement agreement.
Before you agree to the next step
Missing documents or silence can require timely local housing advice. SettleBetween cannot order release of a deposit or substitute for a statutory or scheme process.
Put any proposed outcome into specific terms: who will act, what they will do, the amount if money is involved, and the date. Identify what remains unresolved. An invitation, a discussion and a signed agreement are different stages.
Should I wait if the landlord promises to reply soon?
You can continue communicating, but independently check the relevant process and deadlines. A promise to reply does not necessarily extend the time available to raise a dispute elsewhere.
A private place to prepare your side
SettleBetween provides private AI guidance for each person and a shared space to discuss approved information. You choose what to share and whether to agree. Availability depends on both parties’ locations and the dispute type.
Free to start. The case starter pays $79 only after both parties sign. The invited party never pays the agreement fee. See included access and pricing.
Prepare your side freeAI can make mistakes. This guide is practical preparation, not legal advice. Use appropriate official schemes or independent advice when needed. A discussion here does not pause external deadlines or guarantee payment.