Deposit protection schemes - is it law now?

[Tippychick]

I am giving my landlord notice and I want to suggest that they use the deposit as the last month's rent. In fact I will be out about 1 week into that month anyway. They are vv dodgy money wise and I know I will never see the deposit again. It was not registered with the DPS, am I right in thinking that they must do that by law now?

Yes - with all new rental contracts. If your lease started before last April, there wouldn't have been the obligation to use one of the schemes. As the landlord does not hold the money, he/she will not be able to take your last month's rent from it and, to be honest, they may be reluctant to do that anyway in case the property is left damaged.

I don't think they have, in fact I'm almost 100% sure they haven't registered the money. I should have had my own notification from the DPS if they have, plus they're just such scammers. There is no damage so I will suggest that they come to check this then put the deposit against the rent in lieu of a full months notice - I won't be living there anyway

I've googled the DPS and it seems that as they haven't registered my deposit then I can apply at the local court for an automatic payment of 3 x the deposit ( which would be £1800, solve a lot of my bills!) but they're so wriggly I bet they'd get out of that too. Easier to just not exchange any more cash I think, thanks for the response.