Money Claim Online for deposit compensation — the £35 route
The s.214 deposit penalty is a Part 7 money claim. Filed online through MCOL it costs as little as £35, needs no solicitor, and on the small claims track there is no risk of paying the landlord's legal costs if you lose.
Before you start
- Your Letter Before Action sent with 14 days elapsed (attach it to the claim later)
- The landlord's exact name and address — from the tenancy agreement or the prescribed information
- Your figures: deposit amount, penalty multiplier sought (1x–3x), interest
Filing step by step
- Create a Government Gateway account and log in to Money Claim Online.
- Claim against: the landlord (and the agent jointly if they received the deposit — s.212(9) makes either liable for the duties).
- Particulars of claim: the deposit, dates, the breach of s.213(3)/(6), the s.214(4) demand of 1x–3x, interest under s.69 County Courts Act 1984 at 8% above base.
- Pay the fee (bands below) — or attach an EX160 help-with-fees reference.
- Service is deemed 5 days after issue; the landlord has 14 days (or 28 with an acknowledgment) to respond.
Court fees
| Amount claimed | Court fee |
|---|---|
| Up to £300 | £35 |
| £300.01 to £500 | £50 |
| £500.01 to £1,000 | £70 |
| £1,000.01 to £1,500 | £80 |
| £1,500.01 to £3,000 | £115 |
| £3,000.01 to £5,000 | £205 |
| £5,000.01 to £10,000 | £455 |
| More than £10,000 | 5% of claim |
Undefended claims go straight to judgment — then you can enforce with a warrant of control (bailiffs), attachment of earnings or a charging order. Most landlords settle at or before this point once the statutory claim is on the record.
Casewright claim pack
Landlord in the landlord failed the 30-day rule? The Casewright Tenancy Deposit Pack generates your formal 14-day Letter Before Claim and Money Claim Online particulars citing s.213 and s.214 Housing Act 2004. Flat £69 — no percentage of your award, unlike no-win-no-fee deposit lawyers who take 35–42%.
FAQs
Which form — N1 or N208?
For a money claim like the s.214 penalty, use Part 7: form N1 via Money Claim Online (or paper N1). Part 8 / N208 is for applications requiring the court's decision on documents alone — some practitioners use it for deposit orders on live tenancies, but for the standard tenant claim MCOL/N1 is cheaper and simpler.
How much are the fees?
£35 for claims up to £300, rising in bands to £455 up to £10,000 (verified on GOV.UK, September 2026). Help with fees (EX160) can reduce or remit them. The fee is added to the judgment if you win.