{
  "licence": "CC BY 4.0, cite Payotte (https://payotte.com/uk/by-nation) with a link",
  "topic": "tenancy-deposits",
  "extracted": "2026-10-14",
  "nations": {
    "england": {
      "protection_deadline": "30 days from the landlord or agent receiving the deposit",
      "cap": "5 weeks' rent (annual rent under £50,000); 6 weeks' (£50,000 to £100,000)",
      "penalty": "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",
      "answer": "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.",
      "note": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Tenancy deposit protection (GOV.UK)",
          "url": "https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection"
        },
        {
          "title": "Housing Act 2004, section 214 (legislation.gov.uk)",
          "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/34/section/214"
        },
        {
          "title": "Tenant Fees Act 2019: guidance for tenants (GOV.UK)",
          "url": "https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tenant-fees-act-2019-guidance-for-tenants"
        }
      ]
    },
    "scotland": {
      "protection_deadline": "30 working days from the start of the tenancy",
      "cap": null,
      "penalty": "First-tier Tribunal can order up to 3 times the deposit (application during the tenancy or up to 3 months after it ends)",
      "answer": "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.",
      "note": "Deposit cap not found in the guide's sources.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "When you must protect a tenancy deposit (mygov.scot)",
          "url": "https://www.mygov.scot/landlord-deposit/protection"
        },
        {
          "title": "When your tenancy deposit must be protected (mygov.scot)",
          "url": "https://www.mygov.scot/tenant-deposits/protection"
        }
      ]
    },
    "wales": {
      "protection_deadline": "30 days (the landlord has 30 days to give the contract-holder the scheme name and repayment information)",
      "cap": null,
      "penalty": "Court can order the deposit returned and award compensation",
      "answer": "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.",
      "note": "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.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Deposits: guidance for tenants (gov.wales)",
          "url": "https://www.gov.wales/deposits-guidance-tenants"
        },
        {
          "title": "Standard occupation contracts: guidance (gov.wales)",
          "url": "https://www.gov.wales/standard-occupation-contracts-guidance-html"
        }
      ]
    },
    "northern-ireland": {
      "protection_deadline": "28 days from receipt (written information within 35 days)",
      "cap": "One month's rent",
      "penalty": "Council can fine 3 times the deposit; a court up to £20,000",
      "answer": "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.",
      "note": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "title": "Tenancy Deposit Scheme: information for tenants (nidirect)",
          "url": "https://nidirect.gov.uk/articles/tenancy-deposit-scheme-information-tenants"
        },
        {
          "title": "Private rent and tenancies (nidirect)",
          "url": "https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/private-rent-and-tenancies"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}