How to check your tenancy deposit is protected

When you pay a deposit to rent a home, your landlord must put it into a government-approved scheme within 30 days. That keeps your money safe if there is a dispute when you leave — and if they do not follow the rules, you could claim compensation worth up to 3 times the deposit amount.

What is tenancy deposit protection?

There are 3 government-approved schemes in England for holding your deposit:

• mydeposits
• Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

Your landlord must register your deposit with one of these schemes within 30 days of receiving it. In the same 30 days, they must also give you written information — called "prescribed information" — telling you which scheme holds your money and how to get it back when you leave.

If they protected your deposit but failed to hand over the prescribed information on time, you can still make a compensation claim.

How to check if your deposit is protected

Each of the 3 schemes has a free online search tool. You just need your postcode and the start date of your tenancy. If your deposit does not appear on any of the 3 sites, it may not be protected. If that is the case, speak to Citizens Advice about what you can do next.

Your deposit cap

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, your landlord cannot ask for more than 5 weeks' rent as a deposit if your annual rent is under £50,000. If your monthly rent is £800, the maximum deposit they can take is around £923.

If you paid more than this cap, Citizens Advice can advise on whether you can claim the extra back.

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Getting your deposit back when you leave

When your tenancy ends, your landlord must return your deposit within 10 days of you both agreeing how much you will get back.

They can only keep money for genuine damage you caused — not for normal wear and tear such as small marks on walls, worn carpet, or faded curtains. These are signs of everyday living and your landlord cannot charge you for them.

If you and your landlord cannot agree on deductions, ask the deposit scheme to step in and make a decision for free. This is called alternative dispute resolution and you do not need a solicitor to use it.

Do the rules still apply after May 2026?

Yes. Most private tenancies in England became assured tenancies on 1 May 2026 under the Renters' Rights Act. The deposit protection rules still apply in full. Your landlord must have protected your deposit within 30 days of receiving it, whatever type of tenancy you now have.