Frequently Asked Questions - Tenants

• How to get your deposit back
  • TDS Northern Ireland holds my deposit. How do I get my deposit back?

    If TDS Northern Ireland holds your deposit it is protected using our custodial scheme. 
    

    To release the deposit at the end of the tenancy the lead tenant or the landlord/agent should submit a 'Request for repayment' by logging in to their TDS Northern Ireland account. 

    1. Go to the deposit summary and click 'Request repayment of deposit.'
    2. Tell us how much of the deposit each party should receive.
    3. We will notify the other party of your request and invite them to respond.
    4. If the other party agrees with the request we will repay the deposit.

    If the other party does not agree to the request they will be given the opportunity to raise a dispute and use the Dispute Resolution Mechanism to decide how the deposit should be divided. 

  • My agent or landlord holds my deposit. How do I get my deposit back?

    If your landlord or agent holds your deposit it is protected in our insured scheme. 

    You should contact them directly to arrange the return of the deposit.

    If you are unable to reach an agreement over how the return of the deposit, the lead tenant can submit a dispute to TDS Northern Ireland and an impartial adjudicator will decide how the deposit is to be divided.

  • What if the other party does not agree to my request for repayment? (Custodial scheme only)

    If the other party does not agree with your request for repayment at the end of the tenancy, they will be given the opportunity to raise a dispute with TDS Northern Ireland. 

    The dispute resolution mechanism invites both parties to put forward their case and submit documentary evidence to support their case. An impartial adjudicator will examine the cases to decide how the deposit is to be shared. 

  • What if the agent or landlord doesn't respond to the repayment request? (Custodial scheme only)

    When protected with the custodial scheme, the agent/landlord has 30 working days to respond to a repayment request made by the tenant. If there is no response within 30 working days we will release the deposit to the tenant(s) in full. 

  • How do I request my deposit back?

     Tenants (Custodial scheme)

    Are you a tenant looking to make a repayment request? We have put together a comprehensive instruction guide of the repayment process, with a walk-through of each screen, and what and where to click when logged in to your online account. 
    
    Download step-by-step guide

     Tenants (Insured scheme)

    Are you a tenant who has asked your landlord or agent about the return of your deposit, and would like to raise a dispute? We have put together a comprehensive instruction guide, with a walk-through of each screen, and what and where to click when logged in to your online account. 
    
    Download step-by-step guide

• Deposit protection
  • Which deposits do not need to be protected?

    Your deposit does not need to be protected if:

    • It was paid before 1 April 2013.
    • It is a fee farm grant;
    • It is on a tenancy for a term certain exceeding 99 years, unless that tenancy is, or may become, terminable before the end of that term by notice given to the tenant;
    • A tenancy the purpose of which is to confer on the tenant the right to occupy a dwelling-house for a holiday;
    • It is a tenancy under which the estate of the landlord belongs to -

    (i) the Crown (whether in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom or in Northern Ireland);
    (ii) a government department;
    (iii) the Executive;
    (iv) a registered housing association;
    (v) or is held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department.

     

  • Where is my deposit?

    Your deposit can be held either by your agent/landlord or by TDS Northern Ireland:

    • Custodial protection: TDS Northern Ireland holds your deposit. 
      
    • Insured protection: Your agent/landlord holds your deposit.
      

    Please login to your TDS Northern Ireland account to find out where your deposit is held.

    Alternatively, refer to the Prescribed Information documents given to you by your agent/landlord at the start of the tenancy.

  • Which tenancy deposits must be protected?

    Any deposit on a private tenancy received on or after 1 April 2013 must be protected in a government approved scheme.

  • Who should protect my deposit?

    Your agent or landlord should protect your deposit. The legal responsibility is with the landlord, but if you are using an agent, the agent will normally do it on the landlord's behalf. 

  • How does TDS Northern Ireland protect my deposit?

    Insured protection: The agent or landlord holds the deposit and we have insurance covering it. If the agent or landlord fails to pay money that they owe, we can refund the tenant and claim it from our insurance. We pursue them separately to recover money that they owe. 

    Custodial protection: We hold the deposit in a designated account. We only release the funds when both parties agree or following a decision by a TDS Northern Ireland adjudicator. 

    Both forms of protection include free dispute resolution, whereby the tenant can refer a disagreement over the repayment of the deposit to us for impartial adjudication. Adjudication is mandatory when requested by the tenant. 

  • Is my deposit protected by TDS Northern Ireland?

    Visit the 'Is my deposit protected?' page and enter the Deposit Account Number (DAN) shown on your Deposit Protection Certificate. 

    You should have received documents about your deposit protection at the start of the tenancy, called Prescribed Information. If you do not have this paperwork you can search the database using details of the tenancy. 

    Is my deposit protected?

     

• Deposit disputes
  • How do I raise a dispute?

    The dispute process can be completed online. You can begin a dispute after the tenancy has ended.

    The way to start a dispute depends on whether the deposit is protected with the custodial or insured scheme. 

    Custodial Scheme

    If one party responds disagreeing with the other party's repayment request we will expect you to contact the agent/landlord to negotiate and try to reach agreement. During this period you can still update the repayment request for us to release the money before referring your case to an adjudicator.

    If you don't reach agreement within 10 working days the parties will be invited to upload evidence online with an explanation of the case for an impartial adjudicator to examine. You have a further 10 working days to do this and once both parties have uploaded their evidence an adjudicator will decide how the deposit is to be divided.

     

    Insured Scheme

    To notify us of a potential dispute log in to the TDS Northern Ireland website and go to the 'My Options' page. Select your deposit and click 'raise a dispute'. 

    Once you have entered details of how you think the deposit should be divided, we will notify the deposit holder and invite them to upload their evidence online within 10 working days. They will also have to transfer the disputed money to TDS Northern Ireland. Once both parties have uploaded their evidence an adjudicator will examine the case and decide how the deposit is to be divided.

  • What evidence do I need to submit?

    Adjudicators must look at all evidence provided, so it should only be submitted if it relates specifically to the issue in question. 

    For example in a damage dispute a photograph if only necessary if it shows the damaged item in question, we don't need any other photos of the property. Or, if you wish to send a copy of email correspondence we only need that which relates to the issue in dispute, not all emails during the tenancy. 

    Evidence not relevant to the dispute might delay the adjudication process.

     

  • What is a tenancy deposit dispute?

    If there is disagreement at the end of the tenancy over how much of the deposit is returned to the tenant and how much the agent/landlord is entitled to keep, you can use the dispute resolution mechanism to resolve the tenancy deposit dispute. 

    It is free of charge and can be done online. Both parties present a case in writing supported by documentary evidence. An impartial adjudicator will examine the evidence and decide how the deposit is to be awarded. 

• Rules and regulations
  • Does TDS Northern Ireland enforce deposit protection law?

    No. We are a private company providing deposit protection and dispute resolution. Local councils enforce deposit protection law.

  • What are the laws governing tenancy deposit protection? Download

    Tenancy deposit protection is governed by the Tenancy Deposit Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. You can download a PDF of the regulations here.

  • Important changes from 1 April 2023

    Important changes from 1 April 2023: The law changes in Northern Ireland from 1 April 2023. On or after that date landlords must protect their deposit within 28 days of receipt [up from the previous 14 days] and supply the Prescribed written information with 35 days [previously 28 days] of receipt of the deposit. Failure to protect the deposit within the statutory timetable is a continuing offence.