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How long do you have to protect a deposit?

Last verified 23 October 2026

30 days. In England and Wales, a landlord or letting agent must put a tenant's deposit into a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and give the tenant set information about how it is protected within the same period.

In England, deposits must be protected for tenants on an assured periodic tenancy, which replaced assured shorthold tenancies on 1 May 2026. The schemes in England and Wales are the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes.

The information must cover the property address, the deposit amount, how it is protected, the scheme's name, contact details and dispute service, your contact details, details of anyone else who paid the deposit, why you might keep some or all of it, how to apply to get it back, and what to do in a dispute or if the tenant cannot reach you. At the end of the tenancy, return the deposit within 10 days of agreeing the amount.

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General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.