In short
In England, a landlord must protect a tenancy deposit in an approved scheme within 30 days of receiving it. The deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks' if annual rent is £50,000 to £100,000), and a county court can order a penalty of 1 to 3 times the deposit if it is not protected. In Scotland, a landlord must protect the deposit in one of three approved schemes within 30 working days of the tenancy starting. The First-tier Tribunal can order the landlord to pay up to 3 times the deposit. In Wales, under an occupation contract the deposit must go into an approved scheme and the landlord has 30 days to give the contract-holder the scheme details. A court can order the deposit returned and award compensation if it was not properly protected. In Northern Ireland, a landlord cannot ask for more than one month's rent as a deposit and must protect it within 28 days, giving written information within 35 days. A council can fine a landlord three times the deposit and a court up to £20,000.
The table
| Nation | Protect within | Cap | If not protected |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 30 days from the landlord or agent receiving the deposit | 5 weeks' rent (annual rent under £50,000); 6 weeks' (£50,000 to £100,000) | County court can order a penalty of not less than the deposit and not more than 3 times the deposit, or order it repaid or paid into a scheme |
| Scotland | 30 working days from the start of the tenancy | — | First-tier Tribunal can order up to 3 times the deposit (application during the tenancy or up to 3 months after it ends) |
| Wales | 30 days (the landlord has 30 days to give the contract-holder the scheme name and repayment information) | — | Court can order the deposit returned and award compensation |
| Northern Ireland | 28 days from receipt (written information within 35 days) | One month's rent | Council can fine 3 times the deposit; a court up to £20,000 |
“—” means the guide does not state it. Download the data: tenancy-deposits.json (CC BY 4.0, cite Payotte with a link).
- Scotland: Deposit cap not found in the guide's sources.
- Wales: Cap not found in the Welsh pages read. The guide's table gives 30 days to protect, while its Wales text only states 30 days to give scheme details.
Other tables by nation
Sources
- England: Tenancy deposit protection (GOV.UK)
- England: Housing Act 2004, section 214 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Scotland: When you must protect a tenancy deposit (mygov.scot)
- Scotland: When your tenancy deposit must be protected (mygov.scot)
- Wales: Deposits: guidance for tenants (gov.wales)
- Wales: Standard occupation contracts: guidance (gov.wales)
- Northern Ireland: Tenancy Deposit Scheme: information for tenants (nidirect)
- Northern Ireland: Private rent and tenancies (nidirect)