Guides · Tenants & landlords
Deposit protection explained
Why your deposit has to be protected by law, what that actually means, and how RENTL handles it.
Why it matters
It's protected, not just held
If you've paid a deposit on a rented home in England, the law requires it to be protected, not simply held by the landlord or agent. Here's what that actually means.
The rules
How deposit protection works
It has to go into a government-backed scheme
There are three approved schemes in England — mydeposits, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), and the Deposit Protection Service (DPS). RENTL protects every deposit through the DPS.
Within 30 days, no exceptions
The deposit has to be protected within 30 days of the landlord or agent receiving it. Missing this deadline is a genuine legal risk for a landlord, not just a formality.
It's capped by law
A deposit can't be more than 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks if the annual rent is over £50,000) — that's the Tenant Fees Act 2019, and it applies regardless of which scheme protects it.
You get proof
Once protected, you should receive confirmation — the scheme's own certificate, plus "Prescribed Information" explaining how the scheme works and how to get your deposit back.
End of tenancy
What happens to the deposit
Both sides agree what's owed
Any proposed deductions — for damage beyond fair wear and tear, for example — should be set out clearly, with evidence.
Disputes go to the scheme, free
If tenant and landlord can't agree, the protection scheme itself runs a free dispute resolution service — neither side needs to go to court.
The undisputed amount is returned promptly
Whatever both sides agree on is returned without waiting for the disputed portion to be resolved.