What is the process and deadline whereby penalties may be sought from landlords For breaches of deposit protection obligations?
<p>Suppose one paid a deposit and did not receive prescribed information confirming its protection within 30 days but only more than 8 months later. The landlord should be liable for 1-3x the deposit amount. How long does the tenant have to pursue this penalty from the landlord, and how could they go about suing for this?</p>

<p>Deposits are governed by <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/part/6/chapter/4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chapter 4 of the Housing Act 2004</a>.</p>
<p>Within that chapter, the 30-day limit for sending the prescribed information to the tenant comes from section 213(6) (as amended):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(6) The information required by subsection (5) must be given to the tenant and any relevant person—</p>
<p>(a) in the prescribed form or in a form substantially to the same effect, and</p>
<p>(b) <strong>within the period of 30 days</strong> beginning with the date on which the deposit is received by the landlord.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Claims must be made within 6 years. <a href="https://www.landlordsguild.com/deposit-penalty-multiple-breaches-and-limitations/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This article</a> cites <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58/section/9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">section 9 of the Limitation Act 1980</a>, where subsection (1) simply states:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>An action to recover any sum recoverable by virtue of any enactment shall not be brought after the expiration of <strong>six years</strong> from the date on which the cause of action accrued.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Regarding making a claim if your deposit was not properly protected: <a href="https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/how_to_make_a_tenancy_deposit_compensation_claim" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this Shelter article</a> describes in detail the steps involved.</p>

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