Protect a tenant's deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and give the tenant the prescribed information within the same 30 days.
The rules
| Rule | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Protect the deposit in an approved scheme | Within 30 days of receiving it |
| Give the tenant the prescribed information | Within 30 days of receiving it |
If you don't
- A court can order you to pay the tenant up to 3 times the deposit.
- The court may decide the tenant doesn't have to leave when the tenancy ends.
- Under the Renters' Rights Act, courts only grant possession if the deposit was protected, or returned, or a dispute resolved.
FAQs
How long do I have to protect a deposit?
30 days from receiving it, plus prescribed information to the tenant within the same 30 days.
What's the penalty for not protecting a deposit?
A court can order the landlord to pay up to 3 times the deposit.
Can I evict if the deposit wasn't protected?
Courts only grant possession if the deposit was protected, returned or a dispute resolved.
Plan it in minutes
Enter the date you received each deposit and the tracker shows the 30-day deadline and turns red if it's missed.
See the Landlord Compliance Checklist →
