Your deposit: protected, and how to get it back

If you have an older, protected tenancy, the deposit protection schemes and the deposit cap described here don't cover it. See Moving out if you're a protected tenant.

Your deposit is your money. The law keeps it safe while you live in your home and sets out clearly how it comes back to you.

How much it can be

A tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks' rent where the yearly rent is under £50,000, or six weeks' rent where it is £50,000 or more. If you paid a holding deposit to reserve the home, it can be put towards your deposit or your first rent, as long as you agree.

Protected within 30 days

• We place your deposit with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS) within 30 days of receiving it, as the law requires. We use the DPS custodial scheme, so your money is held by the DPS itself, not by us, until it's time to pay it back. The DPS is one of the government approved schemes in England, alongside MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
• Within the same 30 days you should be given some key information: which scheme holds your deposit and how to contact it, how much you paid, why some of it might be kept, how to get it back, and what to do if there's a disagreement.
• The same rules apply if someone else paid the deposit for you, such as a family member.
• The law takes this seriously. If a deposit isn't protected, or the information isn't given on time, a court can order the landlord to pay the tenant between one and three times the deposit.

Getting it back

At the end of your tenancy, we agree with you how much comes back. Once you've both agreed, the government's guidance says it should be returned within 10 days. The schemes are there to make sure you get your deposit back if you've kept to your tenancy agreement, not damaged the property, and paid your rent and bills.

A tip that helps everyone: read your check-in inventory carefully when you move in, and take dated photos when you arrive and when you leave.

If you don't agree

• Every scheme offers a free dispute resolution service. You don't have to use it, but if you do, you and we both need to agree to it, you'll each be asked for evidence, and the decision is final.
• While a disagreement is being sorted out, your deposit stays protected in the scheme.
• If you ever can't get hold of us at the end of your tenancy, you can contact the scheme directly.

Find out more

• Tenancy deposit protection (GOV.UK)
• Deposit disputes and problems (GOV.UK)
• Housing Act 2004, section 213 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Tenant Fees Act 2019, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk)