Home / Help / Compliance and safety

Which deposit protection schemes can landlords use?

By the VoxaMTD team. Last verified 31 October 2026

Landlords in England and Wales can use any of three schemes: the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. You or your letting agent must put the tenants' deposit into the scheme within 30 days of getting it.

Each scheme is either custodial or insured. In a custodial scheme, the scheme holds the deposit for free. In an insured scheme, you or the agent keeps the deposit and pays the scheme to insure it. Check which type each provider offers before you choose, because the choice affects who holds the money and what you pay.

Pick the scheme before the deposit arrives so the 30 day deadline is not missed, and keep the certificate and the information you must give your tenants. If you do not use a scheme when you have to, the tenants can apply to a county court at any time during the tenancy.

Read next

Sources

More on compliance and safety

Keep your certificates and renewal dates in one place

VoxaMTD's paid landlord plans, from £8.99 a month, keep your gas, electrical, EPC, deposit and Right to Rent records on their own renewal cycles, with reminders. Every new account gets a 7-day free trial of the paid features when you sign up, with no card needed.

Try it now →

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