My deposit wasn't protected — does that affect my Section 21 notice?

Yes — an unprotected deposit made any Section 21 notice invalid. This is one of several things that could invalidate a Section 21 served before 1 May 2026.

Your landlord was required to protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. If they didn't, any Section 21 notice they served was legally flawed and could be challenged in court.

The three approved schemes are: Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, and Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). Check all three websites with your name and address to see if your deposit was protected.

If your deposit was never protected, or was protected late, and you received a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, you can challenge the notice. You may also be able to claim between one and three times the deposit value as a penalty — regardless of whether you're still in the property.

Since Section 21 is now abolished, this specific interaction is less relevant for new notices. But if you're still dealing with a pre-May 2026 Section 21, an unprotected deposit is a strong ground to challenge it. Contact Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) to check your specific situation.