Case studies

How Pat got over £1,000 of tenancy deposit back in 24 hours

5 March 2026•3 min read

When I first spoke to Remedy, I'd accepted my deposit was gone.

Pat's situation

Pat had left his student flat in Birmingham over a year ago. Since then, his attempts to get his rental deposit back have only produced delays, excuses, and outright being ignored.

He tried upwards of 20 emails, texts, and phone calls. But his letting agent bounced responsibility to a 'missing' landlord.

Pat tried ChatGPT and Google, but remained unsure what to do next, feeling powerless. Between the stresses of moving to London and finding a new job, he missed the 3 month window to raise his dispute with TDS.

Then, a friend recommended he sign up to Remedy.

How Remedy helped Pat recover his deposit

After running through his situation on Remedy, it became clear that the letting agent failed to follow proper procedures, and they had no right keep Pat's deposit.

Remedy informed Pat to the relevant laws, linked online guidance, and explained how it all applies to his situation. It then supported him through collecting the appropriate evidence.

Finally, Remedy generated a well formatted letter. It wasn't another email by ChatGPT, which the estate agents had been happily ignoring. It showed that Pat now understood his position, and was willing to proceed with legal action if needed.

The outcome: over £1,000 returned within 24 hours, not a single unfair deduction.

3 lessons for if you're struggling to get a deposit returned

Pat spent nearly a year trying to recover his deposit, you don't have to. A few key lessons to keep in mind:

You shouldn't accept silence from letting agents or landlords
The 3-Month deadline for deposit scheme disputes is not the end
Landlords and letting agents don't want to go to court

Pat's letting agent stalled, ignored, and bounced around responsibility, hoping he would give up. When it feels like emailing a brick wall, it can be tough to see a path forward. However, if you have a valid claim, this should not deter you.

All the deposit protection schemes have a ~3 month window, starting when you leave the property, to make a dispute via their alternative resolutions process. Just because you've missed this deadline, it doesn't mean you've lost.

Claims are still possible via County Court small claims, but the process can be intimidating.

Agents and landlords hope you give up rather than navigate enforcing your rights. Remedy flips the script by making it simple. As soon as Pat made it clear he was serious about enforcing his rights, he received his deposit back almost immediately. The agents knew they'd never win, and it would be on them to evidence why they withheld the money for so long.

Does this sound familiar? Our client wasted months chasing their agent. Remedy helped them resolve it with just one letter.