Tenancy deposit protection deadline
Enter when you took the deposit to see the date it must be protected by, whether it's within the legal cap, and what you need to give your tenant.
Check your deposit
The short answer (England)
- Protect the deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it.
- Give the tenant the prescribed information within the same 30 days.
- The deposit can be no more than 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks' if the annual rent is £50,000 or more).
General information for assured tenancies in England, based on GOV.UK guidance checked on 11 October 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. Not legal advice.
The three approved schemes
In England and Wales, deposits must go into one of these:
- Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
- mydeposits
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)
Each offers a custodial option, where the scheme holds the money for free, and an insured option, where you or your agent hold it and pay the scheme to insure it.
What you must give your tenant
Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, give your tenant the "prescribed information":
- the property address and the deposit amount
- how the deposit is protected, and the scheme's name, contact details and dispute service
- your (or your agent's) name and contact details, and those of anyone else who paid the deposit
- why you might keep some or all of it
- how the tenant gets it back at the end, what to do if they can't reach you, and what to do if they disagree with the amount
At the end of the tenancy
Once you and your tenant agree how much they get back, the deposit must be returned within 10 days. If you can't agree, the scheme's free dispute service decides, and the money stays protected until it's settled.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don't protect a deposit in time?
Your tenant can take you to court, which can order you to pay them between one and three times the deposit, as well as protect or return it. It can also cause problems if you later need to get the property back. If you've missed the deadline, protect it straight away and take advice.
How much can I take as a deposit?
Up to 5 weeks' rent if the annual rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks' rent if it's £50,000 or more. A holding deposit, taken to reserve a property, is capped at 1 week's rent.
Do I need to protect a holding deposit?
No. But once the tenancy starts and the holding deposit becomes part of the tenancy deposit, it must be protected.
The tenant's parents paid the deposit. Does it still need protecting?
Yes. Deposits paid by someone else, including family or a council deposit scheme, still have to be protected, and you must give that person's details in the prescribed information.
Did the Renters' Rights Act change deposit rules?
The 30-day protection rule still applies to tenancies under the new system from 1 May 2026. The Act did limit how much rent you can take in advance, to one month. See all the Renters' Rights Act changes.
Get deadline reminders by email
One email before each key deadline for landlord deadlines and rule changes. Nothing else, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
We only use your email to send these reminders. See our privacy policy.