Landlord guide · Deposits
Tenancy deposit protection for landlords
You must put a tenant's deposit in a government-backed scheme within 30 days of receiving it. Within the same 30 days, you must give the tenant set information about how it's protected.
The short version
There are three schemes in England and Wales: the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Each offers a custodial option, where the scheme holds the money for free, and an insured one.
If you don't protect a deposit, a court can order you to pay the tenant up to 3 times the deposit.
What to tell your tenants within 30 days
- The property address and how much deposit they paid
- How it's protected, and the scheme's name, contact details and dispute service
- Your contact details, or your agent's, and those of anyone else who paid it
- Why you might keep some or all of it
- How to get it back, and what to do in a dispute or if they can't reach you
What happens if you don't protect it
Tenants can apply to a county court at any time during the tenancy. The court can order you to repay the deposit or pay it into a custodial scheme within 14 days.
It can also order you to pay up to 3 times the deposit. And it may decide the tenants don't have to leave the property.
Holding deposits and third-party payments
You don't have to protect a holding deposit. Once the person becomes your tenant, it becomes a deposit and must be protected. A deposit paid by someone else, such as a parent or a rent deposit scheme, still has to be protected.
At the end of the tenancy
Return the deposit within 10 days of you and the tenant agreeing how much they get back. If you disagree, the deposit stays protected in the scheme until the dispute is settled.
A note on tenancy names
GOV.UK's tenant page says assured periodic tenancies replaced assured shorthold tenancies on 1 May 2026, and that deposit protection applies to them. Its landlord page still refers to assured shorthold tenancies. Check GOV.UK if your tenancy is unusual.
What Redilet does and doesn't do
Redilet checks gas, electrical and energy certificates. It doesn't check deposits. Your scheme's certificate and records show whether a deposit is protected.
Official sources
- Deposit protection schemes and landlords (GOV.UK)
- Information you must give to your tenants (GOV.UK)
- If you do not protect your tenants' deposit (GOV.UK)
- When will the Renters' Rights Act come into force? (GOV.UK)
Checked on 5 November 2026. Check them before you act. This page is researched information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I accept an item instead of money as a deposit?
GOV.UK says a valuable item, such as a car or a watch, doesn't have to go in a scheme. Money does.
How quickly must I return the deposit?
Within 10 days of you and the tenant agreeing how much they get back.