Thanks Chiro for your advice. The landlord deducted £132 out of £700 deposit. I hope she returns the remaining amount after receiving "Letter before action". However, if required later, do I have to claim thrice the amount of full deposit £700 or thrice the amount of £132 that she has not returned? From your message, I gather that it should be £132(amount still owing) + 3 x £700(full deposit). Please advice. Thanks again!! Pete

Hi Guys I gathered loads of relevant information for my case here. Could you please advice me further? I left my previous flat because of many maintainance issues.My landlord deducted £135 from the deposit £700 I paid while signing contract.I have all documents including AST and receipts. I doesn't agree with the deductions. I found that she had not potected money in any TDS though she kept money in a seperate bank account. I enquired about all the paper work including N208 claim form to initiate the claim. Also using various threads in this helpful forum, I came to know about various other requirments. However, I still have following queries and would be grateful to have your advice. 1) The landlord didnt protect deposit in a deposit scheme though she kept money in a seperate bank account. Can I sue her for not complying with TDS to claim three times the deposit? 2) She did unfair deductions and returned £565 out of £700. As she returned £565 of the deposit, does it makes my case weak? I believe I deserved full refund and to avoid this I asked her the inventory list from the beginning but she failed to provide one.I have copies of emails requesting for inventory list. 3) The main reason I left flat was the maintainence issues including smoke alarm, washing machine etc.I can submit copies of email conversation as proofs. Should I include this in N208 claim form ? 4)Since the claim is less then £5000, will it be automatically directed to small tribunal court ? 5)If I win the case, will I be entitled to get court fees in refund? Kindly advice Thanks Peter

I left my previous flat because of many maintainance issues.My landlord deducted £130 from the deposit £700 I paid while signing contract.I have all paperr including AST and receipts. I doesn't agree with the deductions. I found that she had not potected money in any TDS though she kept money in a seperate bank account. I enquired about all the paper work including N208 claim form to initiate the claim. Also using various threads in this helpful forum, I came to know about various other requirments. However, I still have following queries and would be grateful to have your advice. 1) The landlord didnt protect deposit in a deposit scheme though she kept money in a seperate bank account. Can I sue her for not complying with TDS to claim three times the deposit? 2) She did unfair deductions and returned £570 out of £700. As she returned most of the deposit, does it makes my case weak? I believe I deserved full refund and to avoid this I asked her the inventory list from the beginning but she failed to provide one.I have copies of emails requesting for inventory list. 3) The main reason I left flat was the maintainence issues including smoke alarm, washing machine etc.I can submit copies of email conversation as proofs. Should I include this in N208 claim form ? 4)Since the claim is less then £5000, will it be automatically directed to small tribunal court ? 5)If I win the case, will I be entitled to get court fees in refund? Kindly advice