Deposit penalty calculator
Where a tenancy deposit is not protected, or the prescribed information is not given, section 214(4) of the Housing Act 2004 requires the court to order the landlord to pay the tenant a sum of one to three times the amount of the deposit. The court fixes the amount within that range.
| Deposit held | Statutory range, lower limit | Statutory maximum |
|---|---|---|
| £500.00 | £500.00 | £1,500.00 |
| £1,000.00 | £1,000.00 | £3,000.00 |
| £1,500.00 | £1,500.00 | £4,500.00 |
| £2,000.00 | £2,000.00 | £6,000.00 |
| £2,500.00 | £2,500.00 | £7,500.00 |
| £3,000.00 | £3,000.00 | £9,000.00 |
| £3,500.00 | £3,500.00 | £10,500.00 |
| £4,000.00 | £4,000.00 | £12,000.00 |
| £4,500.00 | £4,500.00 | £13,500.00 |
| £5,000.00 | £5,000.00 | £15,000.00 |
Both limits move in step with the deposit, because the section expresses the range as a multiple of the deposit rather than as a cash figure. No column sits between them, because the section provides no method for arriving at one.
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How this is calculated
The amount entered is treated as the deposit held for the tenancy, in whole pence.
The lower limit is the deposit itself. Section 214(4) sets the floor at not less than the amount of the deposit.
The upper limit is the deposit multiplied by the upper end of the range, which section 214(4) sets at one to three times the deposit. Both multipliers are whole numbers, so no rounding arises and none is applied.
Nothing between the two limits is calculated. Section 214(4) gives no method for arriving at the amount inside the range, so a midpoint or an average would be a figure the statute does not contain.
Worked example
Take a deposit of £1,200.00 held for the tenancy.
- The lower limit is the deposit itself, which is £1,200.00.
- The upper limit is the deposit multiplied by the upper end of the range, which is £3,600.00.
- So the range in section 214(4) for this deposit runs from £1,200.00 to £3,600.00.
- Where the amount falls inside that range is for the court, and depends on matters this page does not take in.
Based on the figures entered, the statutory range for this deposit is £1,200.00 to £3,600.00, and the statutory maximum is £3,600.00. The section fixes those two limits and leaves the amount between them to the court.
Frequently asked questions
Does the court have to make an order?
Section 214(4) says the court must order the landlord to pay a sum within the range once a ground in section 214(2) or (2A) is made out. What the subsection does not do is fix the amount: it sets the two limits and leaves the figure between them to the court.
What decides where in the range the amount falls?
Section 214(4) sets out no criteria for the amount inside the range. It is a matter for the court on the facts of the case. This page takes in the deposit and nothing else, so it cannot and does not indicate where in the range any particular case would fall.
Is the deposit itself repaid as well?
That is dealt with separately. Section 214(3) requires the court, as it thinks fit, to order the deposit repaid to the applicant or paid into a custodial scheme, and section 214(3A) applies where the tenancy has ended. The sum under section 214(4) is in addition to whichever of those the court orders.
Which tenancies does section 214 apply to?
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 substituted references to an assured tenancy for references to a shorthold tenancy throughout section 214, which widens the tenancies the section reaches. Section 214(1ZA) and (1ZB) carry transitional wording for a tenancy that was an assured shorthold tenancy immediately before the commencement date. The range in section 214(4) was not amended.
When is a sum ordered under section 214(4) payable?
Within the period of 14 days beginning with the date the order is made. The period runs from the order rather than from the breach, and the same period applies to an order to repay the deposit under section 214(3) or (3A).
Statutory source
The range is set by section 214(4) of the Housing Act 2004, which requires the court to order the landlord to pay the tenant a sum of not less than the amount of the deposit and not more than one to three times it, within the period of 14 days beginning with the date of the order. The grounds are in section 214(1), and the duties whose breach founds them are in section 213. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 substituted references to an assured tenancy for references to a shorthold tenancy in section 214, with transitional wording in section 214(1ZA) and (1ZB).
Last reviewed 21 August 2026.
This tool provides general information based on legislation applying to England. It is not legal advice and does not account for every circumstance. Figures should be confirmed against the current legislation or with a qualified adviser before being relied on.
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